Kyoyaki Porcelain 京焼
The name, Kyoyaki which can be translated as Kyoto Pottery Wares, in general, refers to all or any pottery and porcelain products produced in Kyoto. Kyoyaki is also known as Kiyomizuyaki. Although Kyoyaki is known for its beautiful pottery used by the upper class society for the tea ceremony during the Edo period, the making of the porcelain was not started until much later. It was around 1804-1818 when the first porcelain ware was produced by Okuda Eisen & other potters. Kyoyaki porcelain is appreciated for its exquisite refined taste which can be expressed as wahu that means pure Japanese decorative style.
Kanzan Denshichi 幹山伝七
Kanzan Denshichi (1824-1890) also as known as Kato Kanzan was born in Seto, Owari ( Aichi prefecture) late Edo period. When the Japanese feudal system was coming to an end, many of the kilns operated by the local princes were closed and the potters were forced out of their jobs. Denshichi who was a potter at the Kotoyaki kiln in Hikone (Shiga prefecture), went to Kyoto in 1862 to start a new kiln. With the assistance of Gottfried von Wagner, a German chemist, he was able to modernize the methods of porcelain decoration to improve the colors. Denshichi made a huge contribution to the Kyoto porcelain industry and helped to bring about the expansion to the Western market.
