Ceramics Excavated from the Motoyashiki Pottery Kiln Site: Treasures of Momoyama-Era Mino Ware

In the hills of Toki City, Gifu Prefecture, an extraordinary chapter of Japanese ceramic history lies preserved beneath the earth. The Motoyashiki Pottery Kiln Site (元屋敷陶器窯跡) yielded a remarkable collection of ceramics that has been designated as an Important Cultural Property of Japan. These excavated wares — spanning the late 16th to early 17th centuries — represent the finest achievements of the Mino pottery tradition during the golden age of the Japanese tea ceremony. From the bold asymmetry of Oribe ware to the soft white beauty of Shino, these pieces tell the story of a revolutionary era in Japanese ceramics.

The Motoyashiki Kiln Site: A Cradle of Momoyama Ceramics

The Motoyashiki Pottery Kiln Site is an archaeological complex located in the Kujiri district of Toki City, on a steep south-facing slope beside a stream. The site comprises four kilns: three large single-chamber kilns known as Motoyashiki Higashi No. 1, 2, and 3 (ōgama), and one multi-chambered climbing kiln called the Motoyashiki kiln (renbōshiki noborigama). The complex was designated a National Historic Site in 1967, and the excavated ceramics received their Important Cultural Property designation in 2013.

The climbing kiln — the oldest of its type discovered in the Mino region — stretches approximately 24 meters in length with an average width of 2.2 meters. It features 14 consecutive firing chambers that ascend the hillside like a staircase, with 6 to 7 flame passage holes (sama holes) connecting each chamber. This kiln technology is believed to have been introduced from Karatsu in Kyushu by Katō Kagenōbu, revered as the founding father of Mino ceramics, during the Keichō era (1596–1615).

Why These Ceramics Were Designated as Important Cultural Property

The ceramics from the Motoyashiki kiln site hold exceptional academic and artistic value for several important reasons. The collection consists of two separately designated groups: 390 items held by Gifu Prefectural Tajimi Technical High School, excavated during a 1931 survey, and 2,041 items owned by Toki City, gathered through a 1949 excavation by the Mino Tōso Hōsankai and systematic surveys conducted by the Toki City Board of Education between 1993 and 2001.

Together, these pieces document the complete evolution of ceramic production at the Mino kilns during one of the most transformative periods in Japanese pottery history. The collection includes firing rejects (wasters) alongside kiln furniture such as saggars (saya), conical pins, and kiln supports, providing invaluable evidence of actual production techniques. Many of the excavated wares correspond directly to celebrated tea ceremony vessels preserved in collections throughout Japan, confirming this site as a source of some of the most treasured ceramics in Japanese art history.

The Splendid Variety of Mino Momoyama Ceramics

The Motoyashiki kilns produced an astonishing range of ceramic types that reflect the changing tastes and technological advances of the era. Production began in the second half of the 16th century with conventional wares such as tenmoku tea bowls, ash-glazed plates, and grinding bowls. As the tea ceremony culture evolved, the potters responded with increasingly innovative designs.

By the end of the 16th century, the kilns were producing Ki-Seto (Yellow Seto), characterized by its warm yellow-green ash glaze, and Seto-Guro (Black Seto), distinguished by its lustrous jet-black iron glaze achieved through rapid cooling. The production of Shino ware followed, introducing Japan's first domestically produced white ceramics through the application of a thick feldspar glaze over local clay. Shino pieces are celebrated for their soft, warm white surface and subtle painted designs.

With the introduction of the multi-chambered climbing kiln, production shifted dramatically toward Oribe ware in the early 17th century. Named after the tea master Furuta Oribe, these ceramics are classified into numerous subtypes: Kuro-Oribe (Black Oribe), Ao-Oribe (Green Oribe), Aka-Oribe (Red Oribe), Narumi-Oribe, Shino-Oribe, Sō-Oribe (Total Oribe), Mino-Iga, and Mino-Karatsu. Oribe ware is renowned for its bold use of copper-green glaze, deliberately warped forms, and dynamic painted decorations — a radical departure from the restrained aesthetics that had previously dominated Japanese ceramics.

The Tea Ceremony Connection: From Kiln to Cultural Capital

The ceramics produced at Motoyashiki were not mere local products — they were sophisticated luxury goods created to meet the demands of Japan's most discerning tea practitioners. Archaeological evidence confirms that Shino and Oribe wares from these kilns were widely distributed to urban centers including Kyoto, Osaka, and Sakai, as well as castle towns and warrior residences across the country.

This extensive distribution network reflects the central role that Mino ceramics played in the tea ceremony culture that flourished under the patronage of powerful warlords during the Azuchi-Momoyama period. The deliberate imperfections, asymmetrical forms, and bold decorative schemes of these wares embody the aesthetic philosophy of wabi-sabi and the creative spirit that defined this extraordinary era in Japanese cultural history.

Visiting the Motoyashiki Kiln Site: Oribe no Sato Park

The Motoyashiki Kiln Site is preserved within Oribe no Sato Park (Oribe Village Park), where visitors can walk among the actual archaeological remains. The multi-chambered climbing kiln is displayed in its excavated state under a protective shelter, allowing visitors to observe the original structure of the firing chambers. The three large kilns have been partially restored: Higashi No. 1 kiln is fully reconstructed to its original form, No. 2 kiln shows its internal structure, and No. 3 kiln is displayed as it appeared when excavated.

The park also features the Sōtōen pottery workshop, where visitors can try their hand at making Mino-style ceramics, and the Bosetsuan tea house, a historic structure relocated from the Yōkisō villa in Nagoya that once belonged to the founding family of the Matsuzakaya department store. An exhibition room within the park displays artifacts excavated from the kiln site.

Please note that the Toki City Mino Ceramic History Museum, located a short walk from the park, is currently closed for rebuilding. A new museum is scheduled to open on the adjacent site in 2028. In the meantime, the Gifu Prefectural Museum of Art has hosted special exhibitions featuring the Important Cultural Property collection.

Surrounding Attractions

Toki City and the broader Tōnō region of Gifu Prefecture offer a wealth of ceramic-related experiences for visitors. The area remains Japan's largest producer of Mino ware, and visitors can explore numerous pottery shops, galleries, and wholesale markets. The Oribe Street shopping area and the Toki Premium Outlets offer opportunities to purchase contemporary Mino ware directly.

Nearby Tajimi City is home to additional ceramic museums and galleries, while the historic post town of Magome and the scenic Ena Gorge are within easy reach by car. For those interested in Japanese ceramics, a visit to the Motoyashiki site can be combined with tours of other historic kiln sites in the region, creating a comprehensive journey through the heartland of Japanese pottery.