Let's learn about the production areas of bonsai pots.

In our previous journal, we delved into the various shapes and sizes of bonsai pots, exploring their visual characteristics in detail.

By learning these finer points, you've taken another step closer to becoming a bonsai master.

Did you know? The world of bonsai pots holds even more fascinating secrets.

If you've shopped at NAGINOWA, you might already know this, but we include the name of the production region in the product name for each bonsai pot.

That's right—pots also have characteristics based on their place of origin.

In this journal, let's mainly talk about these production regions.

 

・Country of Origin for Bonsai Pots

Bonsai pots are mostly made in Japan or China.

 

・Chinese Pots

Chinese bonsai pots are made from high-quality clay, offering excellent heat retention, water retention, and aeration properties that greatly benefit bonsai growth.

Chinese bonsai pots are categorized based on the period they were introduced to Japan.

 

◦ Kowatari (Old-style Chinese pots): Those imported during the Muromachi period or earlier. They possess distinctive style in shape, color, and texture, and are valued as antiques and art objects.

◦ Chuwatari (Middle-period Chinese pots): Those imported during the Meiji period. Made specifically for bonsai from the outset, they are excellent for bonsai cultivation. At this time, Chinese pots were highly prized for bonsai.

◦ Shinto / Zenshin-tō (Zen-shin-tō): Refers to pots imported between the 1920s and 1940s. These were produced based on orders for Chinese pot designs tailored to the preferences of Japanese bonsai enthusiasts. Many have been improved, resulting in pots that are both functionally and aesthetically user-friendly.

◦ Shinshin-tō (Shin-shin-tō): Imports from the post-war period after 1945. Large quantities were imported, and many are relatively inexpensive.

◦ Taishō-wari: Refers to pots produced in China during the Taisho and Shōwa periods and imported.

◦ Heisei-watari: Refers to pots produced in China during the Heisei era and imported. Currently, many inexpensive glazed pots from China are imported, and numerous user-friendly varieties are available.

 

・Japanese Bonsai Pots

In Japan, influenced by Chinese pots introduced from China, bonsai pot production flourished from the Taisho era through the Showa era.

Initially mass-produced, these pots were often poorly shaped and of low quality, sold cheaply for cultivation purposes.

As large quantities of inexpensive Chinese pots began importing, Japanese potters gradually began creating superb pieces modeled after antique Chinese imports.

Particularly after the war, as the bonsai industry revitalized, shortages and temporary quality declines in Chinese imports led to Japanese pots becoming highly valued.

 

・Domestic Production Areas in Japan

Bonsai pots with distinctive characteristics are produced throughout Japan.

When it comes to famous Japanese pottery production areas, the Six Ancient Kilns of Japan are renowned: Echizen (Fukui Prefecture), Shigaraki (Shiga Prefecture), Seto (Aichi Prefecture), Tokoname (Aichi Prefecture), Tamba (Hyogo Prefecture), and Bizen (Okayama Prefecture).

Some areas are famous for high-priced, hard-fired pots that hold significant value as art pieces.

Tokoname, in particular, has a long history in bonsai pot production and has produced many renowned bonsai pot artisans.

Seto is a region mass-producing bonsai pots commonly sold at home centers and garden stores.

Shigaraki, known for its high volume of flower pot production, has recently gained recognition as a bonsai pot production area.

Here is an introduction to the main production areas for bonsai pots and the characteristics of their ceramics.

 

◦ Kutani ware - Ishikawa Prefecture: Kutani ware is pottery primarily produced in Kaga City, Ishikawa Prefecture. Kaga City was originally named Kutani Village when Kutani ware began, hence the name. Its defining feature is undoubtedly its splendid, luxurious, and vibrant designs. It employs a rich variety of colors, with intricate patterns showcasing exquisite painting. The colorful yet distinctly Japanese designs, featuring blues, greens, reds, and golds, captivate many ceramics enthusiasts.

◦ Echizen Ware - Fukui Prefecture: Produced in Echizen Town, Niu District. Its origins are said to date back to the late Heian period when techniques from Tokoname were introduced to create hard-fired pottery. The clay used is rich in iron and weathered, giving it strong heat resistance and resulting in a reddish-black or reddish-brown finish.

◦ Mino Ware - Gifu Prefecture: Mino ware originated during the Momoyama period alongside the rise of the tea ceremony. Produced mainly in Toki City, Gifu Prefecture, it was particularly cherished by tea masters active during this era, the birthplace of Japan's wabi-sabi culture. Representative colors of Mino ware include the elegant pale yellow “Kizeto,” the glossy jet-black “Setoguro,” the creamy white “Shino ware” reminiscent of plump skin, and the particularly rare green-patterned “Oribe ware,” unique to Mino. Today, Mino ware accounts for over half of Japan's domestic market share in porcelain tableware production.

◦ Shigaraki Ware - Shiga Prefecture: Shigaraki ware is pottery primarily produced around Kōka District in Shiga Prefecture. It specializes in large ceramic pieces, and in the past, it was well-known for making braziers. Today, it also produces many plant pots, vases, and washbasins. Furthermore, Shigaraki ware is nationally and internationally famous for its tanuki figurines.

◦ Banko-yaki - Mie Prefecture: Banko-yaki pottery is produced mainly in Yokkaichi City, Mie Prefecture. Originating in the mid-Edo period, it was named with the wish that “the works may last forever.” “萬” (ban) means “all” or “everything.” ‘古’ (ko) means “past years.” It is characterized by its strength for heat-resistant items like teapots and earthenware pots, in addition to bonsai pots.

◦ Kyō-yaki - Kyoto Prefecture: A general term for ceramics fired in Kyoto, including Kiyomizu-yaki and Awata-yaki. It spread from around the early Edo period. It is said that “having no distinct characteristics is its characteristic,” meaning it doesn't adhere to a specific style or technique but rather fuses various techniques.

◦ Tokoname Ware - Aichi Prefecture: Tokoname ware is pottery primarily produced in Tokoname City, Aichi Prefecture. It is particularly famous for its vermilion teapots. Besides teapots, its terracotta tiles are also renowned, making it a highly valued ceramic for construction materials. Terracotta-colored pottery is also frequently produced for bonsai pots. However, the aging of artisans is a stark issue here, and the region faces a serious shortage of successors.

◦ Seto Ware - Aichi Prefecture: A general term for ceramics produced in Seto City and its surrounding areas. Boasting over 1,000 years of history and tradition, the term “setomono” for these vessels originates here. Seto is where Japanese pottery began, pioneering the use of glazes and enabling mass production.

◦ Tamba Ware - Hyogo Prefecture: Pottery produced in Tamba Sasayama City, Hyogo Prefecture. Its origins are said to date from the Heian to Kamakura periods. Pieces fired in uniquely shaped climbing kilns feature ash glaze (kaiyu) or iron glaze (tetsuyu), resulting in each piece having distinct colors and patterns. It is also known as Tamba Tachikui Ware.

◦ Bizen ware - Okayama Prefecture: Pottery originating from the Bizen City area. Its production dates back to the late Heian period, characterized by unglazed, tightly fired clay. Its rustic charm and earthy texture ensure it never grows old.

◦ Arita Ware - Saga Prefecture: Pottery produced in Arita Town and its surrounding areas. It was Japan's sole porcelain production center until porcelain production began elsewhere in the late Edo period. Characterized by emotionally evocative underglaze decoration and beautiful overglaze painting, born from techniques steeped in history and tradition. Also known as Imari Ware.

◦ Satsuma Ware - Kagoshima Prefecture: Produced in Kojima City and Hioki City. It encompasses two distinct types: Kuro-Satsuma (kuromon), utilitarian pottery for daily use, and Shiro-Satsuma (shiromon), luxurious and splendid pieces used as official supplies for feudal lords.

 

NAGINOWA primarily carries Bonsai pots from the Banko-yaki, Shigaraki-yaki, and Tokoname-yaki regions in its lineup.

We plan to add Bonsai pots from even more regions to our lineup in the future.

 

How did you like it?

Even when we talk about bonsai pots, there are so many shapes, colors, and even differences by region—it's a world that grows deeper the more you learn about it.

Please find your favorite piece at NAGINOWA, and plant your bonsai in that pot. Reading the journal will surely deepen your affection for it.

You'll undoubtedly come to cherish it like your own child.

 

NAGINOWA offers a wide selection of high-quality Japanese bonsai pots and gardening supplies.

This blog primarily shares information about bonsai and gardening, serving as a guide for both bonsai enthusiasts and beginners.

NAGINOWA Blog chronicles the daily lives of our staff members, so please take a look when you have time.

If you find a bonsai pot you love, we invite you to enjoy shopping at our store, NAGINOWA.