[Records of Artisans from Over 1,000 Years Ago Revealed] Kanpu Pottery Hall Hosts Special Exhibition "Struggles of Artisans at the Okuyama Ancient Kiln Sites"

In Setouchi City, Okayama Prefecture, the Kanpu Pottery Hall (5092 Ushimadocho Nagahama, Setouchi City, Okayama Prefecture) is hosting a special exhibition titled "Struggles of Artisans at the Okuyama Ancient Kiln Sites" to widely promote the appeal of "Sue ware," a historical and cultural resource of the city.

This exhibition focuses on Sue ware that was left at kiln sites without being shipped as products, introducing the trial and error and technical innovations of the artisans who were involved in Sue ware production over a thousand years ago.

Exhibition ViewExhibition View

Event Details

Name

Struggles of Artisans at the Okuyama Ancient Kiln Sites

Period

Ongoing - September 30, 2026 (Wed)

Closed on Mondays and the day after national holidays. If a Monday is a national holiday, or if the day after a national holiday falls on a Saturday or Sunday, the hall will be open.

Time

9:00 - 17:00

Venue

Kanpu Pottery Hall

5092 Ushimadocho Nagahama, Setouchi City, Okayama Prefecture, 701-4301

Admission Fee

Free

Content

Sue ware was a groundbreaking technology at the time, introduced from the Korean Peninsula during the Kofun period, which enabled the creation of hard and durable pottery by firing at high temperatures in kilns. Subsequently, kilns were built throughout Japan, and Sue ware production spread. The area from Setouchi City to Bizen City is home to the Okuyama Ancient Kiln Sites, which are the largest Sue ware kiln sites in the Chushikoku region, with approximately 130 kilns that operated from the Kofun period to the Heian period. While finished products were transported to various regions, Sue ware that cracked or warped during firing, or was used during the manufacturing process, was left around the kiln sites. Therefore, many pieces of Sue ware that did not become finished products have been discovered at kiln sites within the city.

This exhibition focuses on these materials, introducing "Sue ware as kiln tools" used during firing and the "balloon technique" that shows ingenuity in molding techniques. Through the traces of artisans' challenges and trial and error, which cannot be learned from finished products alone, you can feel the depth of Sue ware production. Please come and see the challenges to craftsmanship and the "records of their struggles" that artisans over a thousand years ago accumulated.

Click here for information about Kanpu Pottery Hall

Kanpu Pottery Hall Official Website

Contact Information for this Matter

Setouchi City, Okayama Prefecture, Department of Growth Strategy, Tourism and Culture Strategy Division

Phone: 0869-22-3953

Email: [email protected]

About Setouchi City, Okayama Prefecture

Setouchi City is a town of approximately 35,000 people located in the southeastern part of Okayama Prefecture, adjacent to Okayama City. It is easily accessible, with a minimum travel time of 21 minutes from Okayama Station via the JR Ako Line.

In ancient times, blessed with fertile soil in the Yoshii River basin and forests for fuel, the culture of craftsmanship developed from early on, with Sue ware production being actively carried out. Furthermore, numerous cultural assets, including the Kanpu Ancient Kiln Site, remain within the city, conveying the region's history to the present day. Setouchi City is working to preserve and utilize these historical and cultural resources, while widely disseminating their value and appeal through special exhibitions and hands-on programs.

Click here for the official website of Setouchi City

Official Website of Setouchi City, Okayama Prefecture