In the world of ceramics, Tamba pottery from Hyogo Prefecture stands out with its 800-year history dating back to the Kamakura period. Among pottery enthusiasts, Japan’s Tamba ware is renowned for its global acclaim.

Yesterday, I had the privilege of purchasing a variety of pieces directly from the 9th generation potter, Mr. Kunihiko Onishi. Receiving explanations directly from Mr. Onishi made the experience both enlightening and enjoyable.

At our company, we take pride in offering traditional Japanese pottery as part of the furnishing in our rental properties for foreign clients. These exquisite pieces serve not only as functional dinnerware but also as elegant room decor.

One might wonder, what makes using Tamba ware different from regular, mass-produced dishes available for as low as 100 yen?

1. Enrichment of the Soul: Using cups and plates from Tamba enriches one’s daily life. It’s an experience we recommend everyone to try when visiting Japan.
2. Nurturing Love in Children: The beauty of fine tableware can play a role in nurturing affection and preventing juvenile delinquency.

The natural beauty of Tamba ware is part of its allure. The Japanese tradition of tea culture flourished from the Muromachi to Edo periods, partly due to the warmth and care put into Tamba pottery, fostering a culture of hospitality and kindness in Japanese tea rooms.

Unlike electric kilns, Tamba pottery is wood-fired, allowing for the serendipity of nature to play a role in the design, often resulting in unexpected and unique colorations.

Diversity and Originality in Shape: Handcrafted pottery directly reflects the intentions and skills of the artist, leading to unique shapes and designs that enhance the allure of ceramics.

Expressiveness of Glaze: The glaze gives pottery its color and texture. Variations in the type of glaze, application method, and firing conditions can produce vastly different appearances from the same clay.

The Sensibility and Story of the Artisan: Each piece of pottery is imbued with the sensitivity, background, and story of its maker, giving each creation its unique personality and allowing us to feel the heart of the artist.

Embracing Tamba pottery in our offerings is our way of connecting our clients with the rich heritage and artistic expression of Japan.

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In the picturesque city of Kyoto, the historic Kiyomizu-dera stands as a testament to ancient Japanese architectural techniques. Captured in this image from their official website, the temple is renowned for its construction without the use of a single nail, showcasing remarkable earthquake resistance.

Turning our attention to the Osaka Expo 2025, the budget for the Grand Ring is an astonishing 36 billion yen. Dividing this by the ring’s circumference:

2 km / 360 = 5 m

This equates to approximately 0.1 billion yen per 5 meters of the ring. However, architectural experts, after evaluating the costs of wood, concrete, and labor, estimate the market price for such a structure in Japan to be around 9 to 10 billion yen. Adding a 20% markup and a 10% consumption tax, with the involvement of five intermediary companies, the calculations seem to align perfectly.

Concerns arise with the use of raw wood, which is vulnerable to rain damage. Even a single month of Japan’s rainy season in June can significantly wear down the wood, necessitating protective coatings.

Interestingly, the nail-free construction of Kiyomizu-dera is not only a hallmark of traditional craftsmanship but also a strategy to prevent rusting of metal components. Conversely, for the Grand Ring of the Expo, the wooden joints seem to incorporate metal fastenings, deviating from the purely traditional methods.

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