The history of Kutani goes back to the early Edo period of around 1655. Maeda Toshiharu, the first Lord of the Daishoji Clan, sent Goto Saijiro to the Arita village in the Hizen Province (which is now Sannaka cho, Kutani in Ishikawa Prefecture) to go to learn about porcelain,after the discovery of magnetite there. He adopted its technique and built a kiln in Kutani, which is said to be the beginning of Kutani Porcelain.There is also a theory that it originated during the Kanei era (1624-1644)
However, the kiln in Kutani was suddenly closed around 1730. The reason is still unknown today. Items, made during this time, are called Kokutani, or literally, Old Kutani (古九谷). Known for its distinctive beauty and strong style, the porcelain is highly valued as a representative of Japan`s multicolored over glazed porcelain.
After about 80 years Kokutani kiln was reestablished in Kasugayama in Kanazawa under the direct management of the Kaga Clan. Many kilns were opened with their own styles: Mokubei style of Kasugayama kiln, the Yoshida kiln which tried to echo Kokutani, the fine drawing in red of the Miyamoto kiln and the red and gold highly figured designs (“kinrande”) of the Eiraku kiln.
During the Meiji era “Saishoku-Kinrande” of Kutani Shoza became well known and Kutani Porcelain came into being one of Japan`s key exports. And, today production is flourishing more than ever before.

九谷焼とは（金沢市公式ホームページへ）

九谷焼資料館

九谷焼学校 石川県立九谷焼技術研修所 (将来の九谷焼を担う人材を養成する機関)

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