The Traditions of the Past in the Contemporary Pottery of Japan

Abstract

The article presents the data on the contemporary Japanese art of pottery, collected by the author in June 2015. The study area is Shimane Prefecture on the West coast of the island of Honshu. The study objects are pot tery workshops and their production. The article consi ders the aspects of social organization, technical level and technological cycle of pottery, the stylistic features of ceramics production, and its role in daily life. The author discovers that there are many conservative traits, remaining in the organizational fi eld of pottery and its technological processes, which were typical for the ceramics industry of Japan in the 19th — fi rst half of the 20th century. The technical and technological methods and principles of ceramics production, developed over the centuries, determine its external features and artistic originality. The usage of modern technical equipment for pottery molding and fi ring does not change the pottery’s general trend of keeping the traditions. The pottery production of Shimane is mostly represented by iwá mi-yá ki style. Its main distinc tive feature is its specifi c decoration with colorful glazes. At the same time, there are some other styles in Shimane — for instance, hagi style. The pottery workshops offer both traditional forms and products of the European type. Currently, the most popular categories of ceramic production are tableware, including those for the tea ceremony, as well as interior and exterior design objects.