A must-see for adults and girls! A trip to meet fashionable pottery in Yomitan Yachimun no Sato

date：: 2023.12.12 (Last Updated: 2024.03.01)
author：: OkinawaTraveler Editorial Department

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The traditional Okinawan pottery "Yachimun" is attractive because of its simple texture and plump form. Nowadays, it is becoming increasingly popular among younger generations. Yachimun no Sato, located in Yomitanson, central Okinawa, gathers many potters that make Yachimun. Why don't you take a leisurely tour of Yachimun's village while looking for a wonderful vessel?

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Learn about Yachimun's treasure trove "Tsuboya Yachimun-ri"

About 1 hour by car from Naha. Yachimun no Sato, located in Yomitan Village, central Okinawa Prefecture, attracts many potters and has a pottery studio. There are 19 potteries in this area. It is a popular tourist spot dotted with cafes and shops.

Yachimun's village began about half a century ago. At that time, many potters set up pottery in Tsuboya, Naha City, and made works using climbing kiln. However, with the development of Naha, housing began to increase in this area, making it difficult to burn smoke-free kilns. Friends began to gather when Jiro Kaneshiro, a master craftsman who became a living national treasure, moved to Yomitanson in search of an environment suitable for making pottery. Today, four climbing kilns are used jointly by several potters to create unique pottery.

See information about Yachimun no Sato

If you're a traditional house, here! "Yomitan Mountain Kiln Joint Shop"

Yomitan Yamayaki is a yachimun baked in the Yomitan Mountain Kiln. The Yomitanyama kiln was opened in 1980 by four potters, Minoru Omine, Akimitsu Kaneshiro, Terumasa Tamamoto, and Maman Yamada. The beautiful figure of the nine-story climbing kiln, located a little deeper in the village of Yachimun, symbolizes the village of Yachimun. At the communal stand, many vessels with a presence made in four workshops are sold.

See the details of the Yomitan Mountain Kiln Joint Shop

Yachimun, whose vivid colors are cute, is at "Gallery Utsuwaya".

"Gallery Utsuwaya", which has a shop near the entrance of Yachimun no Sato, is a gallery dealing with works made by Tsunehide Shimabukuro, a well-known potter in and outside the prefecture. Due to its cute pattern and vivid color, it is gaining popularity among young female customers.

Among them, Yachimun, made using a special technique called "Kuresu waxuki" using indigo pigment "Kuresu", is a representative work of Mr. Shimabukuro. There are many customers who come out of the way to ask for this. The price range is wide, and the works lined up at the storefront are particularly reasonable.

In addition, the pottery buttons and chopstick rests made by the staff are also affordable, so it is also recommended as souvenirs.

See the details of the gallery Utsuwa family Tsunehide workshop

Yachimun "Ceramic Studio Fuji" has a tropical pattern.

The late Jiro Kaneshiro, Okinawa's first living national treasure, who created the foundation of Yachimun's village. Relatives who inherited Mr. Kaneshiro's technique have set up a number of potters in Yachimun no Sato.

"Ceramics Studio Fuji" is one of them. It is a pottery made by Kanako Fujioka, a potter who is the grandson of Mr. Kaneshiro, and also serves as a gallery. Mr. Fujioka has been watching his family's pottery making up close since childhood. Aspiring to nature and pottery, he became independent from his mother's "Miya Tobo" several years ago. I opened the pottery workshop Fuji.

One of Jiro Kaneshiro's representative works is a fish crest vessel depicting fish. While inheriting this tradition, it incorporates new patterns such as hibiscus, turtles, and whales to create works that match modern life.

See the details of the pottery workshop Fuji

Okinawa Zenzai "Mori no Chaya"

There are almost no restaurants on the premises of Yachimun no Sato. In such a place, "Gallery Mori no Chaya" is a valuable entity where you can take a break.

This is a cafe and gallery run by Mr. Hisae, a wife of ceramic artist Meiko Kaneshiro, one of the members who opened the Yomitanyama kiln. I also work on various vessels as a potter.

His specialty is Okinawan-style zenzai made by Hisae. Kintoki beans, which have been slowly boiled with brown sugar, are abundantly served on shaved ice, and vanilla ice and shiratama are also topped. Sweets full of tenderness that the sweetness of brown sugar penetrates the body. Of course, the bowl is the work of Akimitsu Kaneshiro and Hisae, and the glass dedicated to iced coffee is exceptionally unique. This original is made to make a straw on the lid.

See the details of the gallery Mori no Chaya

How was it? The vessels that have been nurtured in the rich nature of "Yachimun no Sato". Each pottery and gallery has a different personality yachimun. In addition to the ones introduced this time, there is also a pottery studio, so be sure to find one of your favorites in the relaxed air.

Post: December 7, 2018
Update: December 12, 2023

See a special feature on a trip to search for Okinawan pottery “Yachimun (Pottery)”

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