The Kondô Couple

Nobuyasu and Sanae Kondô fire traditional Echizen ceramics in a Hôgetsu kiln. They live in seclusion right at the edge of the forest next to an abandoned temple. Their ceramics have a dark clay body and feature a natural ash-splash glaze. This rustic appearance exudes something timeless. You get the feeling that these ceramics could have been made thousands of years ago. You can learn more about the Kondôs here in the blog.

Echizen ceramics are among Japan's "Six Ancient Kilns". The center is located in today's Fukui Prefecture, which lies north of Kyoto. It is proven that Sueki ceramics were already fired from the 5th century. From the 12th century onwards, high-fired stoneware was produced using anagama, which featured a natural ash-splash glaze. To this day, anagama and noborigama are commonly used for Echizen-yaki, so naturally, the ceramics are produced accordingly.

Traditionally, pots and traps for squid were made. Today, thanks to the numerous workshops, the range is much broader. For several ceramicists, tableware and tea utensils are also being made.