Curry on the train from Arita

This curry was purchased at the train station and heated right before the train arrived. It's a wonderful meal and sitting in a Japanese train is always a special treat. The scenery was beautiful.

Sueyama Jinja Shrine - Arita, Kyushu Island

Tozan Shrine was founded in 1658 as Arita Sarayama Sobyo Hachimangu and is a branch of Kamihara Hachimangu Shrine in Imari which is dedicated to Ojin Tenno. It is only since the Meiji period that this Hachiman Shrine (Shrine for the God of Archery) was called Tozan which means “pottery producing area.” Additionally the ancestor of the feudal clan Nabeshima Naoshige and the father of Arita porcelain Ri Sanpei are worshipped here.

In the precincts of the shrine several memorial monuments and monuments to the honor of the great people or Arita are to be found. These include the monuments for Narimatsu Nobuhisa who was a famous local governor in the Edo period. Egoshi Reita the great scholar, Fukagawa Eizaemon 8^th who contributed to the pottery industry and Fukagawa Rokusuke who started the Arita Porcelain Fair. Also on top of the mountain the monument of Ri Sampei was erected in 1917 in commemoration of the 300^th anniversary of the first production of porcelain in Arita. Thus the virtue and power of the former leaders of Arita is honored at this location.

Tozan Shrine was founded in the Edo period under the name of Arita Sarayama Sobyo Hachimangu and dedicated to the fathers of pottery to pray for the town and the prosperity of Arita porcelain. It is situated in a picturesque location on the foot of Renge’ishi Mountain where one has a good view of the town. Cherry blossoms, azaleas and altheas, the national flower of Korea which Arita has a close relation to; color the shrine area throughout all seasons. If you have a look around you will discover the porcelain guardian dogs (1887, dedicated by Imaemon 10), the porcelain Torii (shrine archway, 1888, dedicated by the district of Hiekoba) and the big water basin (1889, dedicated by the district of Nakanohara, created by Ide Kinsaku). All of which are pieces of great elegance, which makes the shrine resemble a natural open-air museum.

Enshrined gods: Ojin Tenno, Nabeshima Naoshge, Ri Sanpei

Festivals: Festival for ancient potters (May 4), Annual shrine festival (October 16 & 17)

Founded: August 1658 as a branch of “Arita Gosha Hachimangu Shrine” in Imari

http://www.arita-toso.com/

2-5-1 Odaru Arita-cho, Nishimatsura-gun
Saga Prefecture
844-0004  Japan
+81 955-42-3310

Gen-emon kiln, Arita - home of Japanese porcelain

Arita is the birthplace of Japanese Porcelain. It’s origin dates back to the beginning of the 17^th century when deposits of white porcelain ore were found in Arita’s Mt. Izumiyama by Ri Sampei (Korean name, Lee Cham-Pyung), a potter from Korea. Ri Sampei is still honored in Arita to this day. He was taken prisoner by the Japanese during a military excursion in Korea and lived the rest of his life in Arita, teaching the art of porcelain to Japanese craftsmen. There is a statue and a shrine to him in the town and in Gen-Emon Kiln as well.

Besides the raw materials used to manufacture the porcelain, the region developed advanced firing techniques which gave them an advantage over conventional methods.

The region grew prosperous when China restricted the export of their porcelain to European markets. The Dutch trading company East India set up an export point located in Imari. The porcelain is often referred to as “Imari ware.” The first Japanese porcelain exported to the European markets were imitations of Chinese designs, colors and shapes (imitations of Ming Dynasty works). As time passed, the Japanese craftsmen developed their own designs, shapes and palettes. This foundation grew and to this day as certain craftsmen (and women) are so valued, they are considered national treasures.

Gen-Emon Kiln is an existing high quality producer of Japanese porcelain that dates back to the beginning of porcelain production in Japan. It is located in the hills of Arita. If you visit Arita, rent a bicycle for traveling around. The area is full of kilns and shops and although driving is easy, renting a bicycle is much more fun. Bicycles can be rented at the train station. Although the area is hilly, getting around by bike is easy.

Gen-Emon builds on a tradition of craftsmanship. The pottery is hand crafted, hand painted and painstakingly kilned. The kiln uses a unique fuel in its firing process, Japanese red pine. The craftsmen work at benches facing windows with good lighting. Each craftsman excels at certain aspects of porcelain creation, such as molding, shaping, painting, glazing, and decorating. It requires years of apprenticeship to attain a position at the renowned kiln.

In February of 1981 Pope John Paul II visited Japan. During the visit the Pope paid tribute to those who perished at Hiroshima and spoke out against nuclear war. The Pontiff also met with Emperor Hirohito. During his visit, Gen-emon kiln presented the Pope with a set of porcelain. There is a letter from the Vatican thanking the kiln for their gift along with a reproduction of the porcelain given to the Pontiff.

Be prepared for a price shock. The porcelain is expensive, especially the pieces crafted by the best artisans. There are affordable pieces and just experiencing the kiln and walking around the studios, kilns and grounds is an experience worth having. There are local shops offering machine crafted porcelain at much more reasonable prices. Arita is an amazing place and well worth a visit.

Gen-Emon Kiln

2726, Maruohei, Arita-cho
Nishimatsuura-gun, Saga-ken
844-0023, JAPAN

 http://www.gen-emon.co.jp/english/

Enrance

Raw materials quarried locally

Historic pieces

Workshop

Decorating and painting

Glazing compound

Japanese red pine used to fire kiln

Kiln pots

Working kiln

Inside kiln

Garden outside

Porcelain presented to Pope John Paul II

Papal visit in 1981 to Japan

Outside wall embedded with shards

Outside shop entrance