Yomitan’s trademark Yachimun Pottery on display

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56 Yomitan-based pottery artisans are exhibiting their best creations in Yomitan Village Art Museum starting Wednesday.

It happens only once a year, when the pottery artisans of Yomitan Village band together to have a super pottery event, the Yomitan Yachimun Exhibition.

Beginning Wednesday, and running through March 24th, some 56 artisans with kilns in Yomitan Village come together to share their handiwork with the public. The Yomitan Yachimun Exhibition runs 9 a.m. ~ 7 p.m. daily except Mondays at the Yomitan Village Art Museum, sponsored by the Yomitan Yachimun & Technical Market Executive Committee.

Yachimun is one of Okinawa’s most famous potteries, handmade in Yomitan Village. Ceramists gathered here and started the process, which has developed through the years.

Around 1682, King Sho-tei of Ryukyu Dynasty brought together the kilns initiating the development of the china business. In addition to the technology, which has existed until now, promotion of pottery is aimed at absorbing the technology of Japan and various parts of China. Although many pottery stores stand side by side in Naha and are called Yachimun even now, it is disputed by Yomitan. Northern artisans and potters insist that environmentally, unreasonableness arises and many kilns continue to be near the remains of Zakimi Castle in Yomitan village. Yomitan, they say, is the place to fire pottery.

The leader of the Okinawa ceramic art community, and Jiro Kaneshiro are invited, and some ceramists built a common climbing kiln in a “village of Yachimun” concept, After that, as Yuntanzayaki “north kiln”, a stand, an exhibition hall, etc. are respectively put side by side. Many houses with a studio are standing in a row, and a young potters who come to the village are increasingly developing their skills independently.

Yomitan Village Art Museum is located at the foot of the old castle, which commands a wide view of the East China Sea in Yomitan and the remains of Zakimi castle. Yomitan is an hour’s drive from Naha City. Admission to the Exhibition is ¥200 for adults and ¥50 for students junior high school age and younger.