Suizaka is a small village between Daishoji and Yamashiro, on the top of a
hill. In the old time there was a jail in Suizaka village.
The old Suisaka kiln is located on the edge of the village near a bamboo forest.
Before the control by Lord Maeda Toshinaga of the Kaga area, this area was the
domain of Yamaguchi Munenaga.
Munenaga was a Samurai, he went to Korea during the Japan Korean war. As he
was found of Tea ceremony, coming back from the war, he took with him a Korean
potter. The Korean potter started Suisaka kiln.
In 1600, Yamaguchi Munenaga (Genban) was defeated and killed by Maeda Toshinaga,
who took his Daishoji castle. At that time Suizaka became the domain of Maeda.
Until the beginning of Ko-Kutani, for 50 years, the Korean potters continued
to make pottery at Suizaka. At that period a candy factory was also started,
and these business were sufficient for this area to live peacefully.
In 1628 Maeda Toshitsune decided to develop Suizaka, he brought potters from
Seto.Potters of Mizoro began to make pottery in Suizaka. Mizoro is the place
where Ninsei built his first kiln. It is not very clear when this kiln closed
down. In 1685 Suizaka continued to make pottery and some in a style similar
to Ko-Kutani.
Some fragment of Suizaka pottery have been discovered and are now kept in Suizaka
. There is now a museum and a small kiln operated on this location The Suizaka
original wares are totally different from Kutani style, they look like Korean
wares and the clay which was used contain a lot of iron. Their surface is also
made with iron glaze which is also very rough. There is some times brush line
at the surface. The clay used for the pottery is very fine, and can make a very
smooth pottery which can be made by hand wheel. As these wares are very simple
their were very good for tea ceremony.
When the Ko-Kutani has started around 1650 in the Daishoji Han, they certainly
must have employed some potters of Suizaka.
Today, you can visit the place where Suizaka kiln was operating. There is still a kiln, and a small shop that you can visit.