The Craftsmanship of Iga

Originally used as a military implement during the Edo Period (1603-1867), kumihimo was also made in the Iga region during the reign of Lord Todo Takatora. Bansenshukai, a text from the period, states that kumihimo were used as weapons by Iga-ryu ninjas. In the Meiji Era (1868-1912), when the use of swords was abolished, this technique shifted from use as a military implement to use in decorative cords used to hold kimono sashes in place.

Iga Ware is said to have originated about 1,200 years ago (during the Tenpyo Era, 729-749) when farmers fired seeding pots for agriculture and various daily utensils. There are records of Iga Ware being presented to Kotai Jingu Shrine in Ise during the Nara Period as well. It is also thought that Tarodayu and Jirodayu (potters during the Warring States period), who worked during the late Muromachi Period (1333-1568), revived Iga Ware in Marubashira during the Kyoroku Period (1528-1532) and are considered to be the founders of Iga Ware. During the Momoyama Period (1568-1600), when the Wabicha style of tea ceremony became popular, Iga Ware was highly valued by tea masters such as Sen no Rikyu and was even given as offerings among feudal lords.

In 1669, during the reign of Todo Takahisa, the third-generation head of the Todo family a law established to prevent over-exploitation of pottery clay from Mount Shiratsuchi was enacted, and potters left the area for Shigaraki, leading to the gradual decline of Iga Ware. Later, in the mid-Edo Period (1603-1867), potters from Kyoto and Seto were invited to Iga to learn glazing techniques, and Iga Ware experienced a revival as pottery for everyday use was produced. This period is known as the Reemergence of Iga. After the Reemergence of Iga, tea-related pottery was rarely produced, as the focus of production shifted to heat-resistant kitchen tableware such as Yukihira-nabe (pots that resemble saucepans) and Tsuchi-nabe (earthenware pots), as well as everyday utensils.

Also known as Shichido (Seven Times) Ware, Iga Ware is fired multiple times at high temperatures, creating a naturally occurring, glass-like blue glaze. Its natural beauty embodies the concepts of ephemerality and imperfection, making Iga Ware unrivaled in the world of tea ceramics. Iga Ware is made from clay from a stratum known as the Old Biwako Layer, formed 3 to 4 million years ago. There are two types of clay that are considered Iga Potters’ Clay: Gaerome clay and Kibushi clay, both of which are known for their high heat tolerance.