- Culture
- Oita
Onta Pottery Village
In Onta Pottery Village in Motoe-machi, Hita-shi, Oita, there are only 9 potters. The sound of the mortar that moves via the flow of the river has been selected as one of the protected 100 Soundscapes of Japan. In addition, at the Onta Pottery Museum there are exhibits of materials and antique ceramics, and you can learn all about Onta Pottery.
Since Hita's own ceramics “Onta Pottery” began in the middle of the Edo Period (1603-1867), it has been handed from father to only one son to the present day. Even now, ceramic work is still done within families, preserving the traditional methods and unique styles. From the beginning of the Showa Era (1924-1989), Onta Pottery became known to the world after being widely introduced by the founder of the Mingei (folk craft) movement Muneyoshi Yanagi, potter Shoji Hamada, and world famous ceramist Bernard Leach. In 1970, Onta Pottery was selected as an “intangible cultural property requiring measures such as creation of records.” In 1995, it was designated as an “Important National Intangible Cultural Property” along with the Onta Pottery technical conservation society being certified.
Unique patterns such as “hakeme” (brush marks), “tobikana” (distinct patterns), finger drawings, “kushigaki” (combed lines), patterns by glazing, etc. are characteristic of the unique style of Onta Pottery.
Onta Pottery is made without using machines. It is made using only the mortar that moves via the flow of the river, the kick wheel that the potter turns with his feet, and the wood fired climbing kiln.
The sound of the mortar is one of the protected 100 Soundscapes of Japan.
The mossy mortar that continuously moves slowly with the Shishi-odoshi makes visitors feel the eternity of time.
The Onta Pottery Museum exhibits materials and antique ceramics from which visitors can learn about the history and characteristic of Onta Pottery.
Closed: Wednesdays (the following day should a national holiday fall on a Wednesday), and New Year's Holidays
Location
| Name | Onta Pottery Village |
|---|---|
| Website | https://oita-tourism.com/en/attractions/detail_1025.html |
| Address | Sarayama, Motoe-machi, Hita-shi, Oita |
| Access | 30 minutes by car from JR Hita Station 25 minutes by car from Oita Expressway Hita IC |