The world of antique ceramics is undergoing great waves of change, and although not all of it is good, there is good stuff out there, and it is such a joy to find it. INISHIE” is a department that finds items within a price range that can actually be used frequently and introduces them to you all. I am fortunate to be able to purchase works that have been treasured by tea masters since ancient times at a low price, but I also feel something strange about it. The value of the works themselves hasn’t decreased, but I think the sense of value has changed dramatically. It’s a bit of a strange way of putting it, but… The number of people interested has drastically decreased, so as a result there is no demand and the value is falling. It’s the same as crude oil. The quality of the crude oil itself does not change, but the price changes depending on the economic situation. Now I am collecting them bit by bit from the treasure trove.

Many people today may wonder why Bizen ware is sold in Kyoto? However, before Western culture began to fully enter Japan (roughly speaking, for a long period from the Muromachi period to the Edo period), Bizen ware was popular throughout Japan. The main merchants who sold it were in Kyoto (Osaka). In fact, many ancient pottery pieces, not just Bizen ware, have been excavated in Kyoto. They sold a wide variety of items, from everyday utensils to tea utensils favored by tea masters. That is why Bizen ware and Kyoto have had a deep connection in the past.

The bottom part of the Mizusashi
Momoyama period (An era filled with masterpieces)

One of the main points of appreciating Ko Bizen(Old Bizen) ware is enjoying the texture of the clay itself.