[Mino Ware]
Mino ware is Japanese ceramics／porcelain traditionally produced around Toki city, Tajimi city, Mizuha city and Kani city in Gifu prefecture that was designated as "the Traditional Crafts of the Country" in 1978. Mino area is the biggest producing region of ceramics where accounts for more than 50 percent of the whole production of Japanese ceramics.
In Kamakura period, potters moved to Mino area from Seto area and lots of efficient big kilns were established due to economic policies by Nobunaga ODA. In Momoyama period, along the development of tea culture among Daimyo, new style of pottery called “Momoyama ware” ( Shino, Oribe and Kiseto ware) was invented and they got to create tea utensils. In Ego period, Mino ware developed new styles; Oribe ware, Ofukei ware(in the middle of Edo period) and porcelain in the end of Edo period.
*Variety of Mino ware
Kiseto(yellow Seto), Setokuro( black Seto), Shino (Hai(ash) Shino, Nezu(gray) Shino, Aka (red) Shino), Oribe (Aka(red) Oribe, Ao(blue) Oribe, Oribe Kuro(black), Narumi-Oribe), Mino Iga, Mino Karatsu and so on.
[Hidetake ANDO]
The master of Senzangama kiln.
"My grand father Sentaro established the Senzan in Kurai, Mino City in 1868. The kiln has been succeeded until today for 100 years. I appreciate my pottery environment which my grandfather left and have been trying to create better works of traditional Shino and Oribe with new techniques."
-The regular member of the Japan Art Crafts Association
-The member of the Mino Pottery Association
-Won several prizes at Japan Traditional Art Crafts Exhibition, Japanese Ceramic Art Exhibition and Chunichi International Ceramic Art Exhibition.
-Won the Governor's Prize and the Art Encouragement Prize at the Asahi Ceramic Art Exhibition.