Takatoriyaki Souke is the direct descendant kiln of Takatori ware, which has been continuing for 420 years in Toho Village, Fukuoka Prefecture. It started as the official kiln of the Kuroda clan at the foot of Mt. Takatori during the Sengoku period. As one of the “Enshu Seven Kilns” which received guidance regarding the pottery techniques from tea ceremony master Kobori Enshu during the Edo period, Takatoriyaki Souke was regarded as one of his seven favorite kilns.

Today, the 13th generation Hachizan Takatori and his son, Shunkei Takatori, carry on the tradition of crafting Takatori ware. They utilise a mixture of local clay from Toho Village and Nanakuma. The clay processed using traditional water mills called Karausu, powered by the natural flow of river, was passed down and still in use today. This method, using the wooden mills crafted from a single large red pine tree, crushes and sieves clay to a fine consistency.

Noteworthy for its thin construction and exquisite craftsmanship, Takatoriyaki Souke’s pieces embody the essence of “kirei (elegance) sabi” where the refined beauty of wabi-sabiharmonizes with sophisticated elegance. The kiln’s exclusive technique for creating masterpieces lies in the secret of the glaze, “nana-iro-gusuri,” passed down through generations and preserved within the Takatoriyaki Souke lineage.