Kouraizaemon Saka

Kouraizaemon Saka is a prestigious lineage of Hagi ware potters in Hagi City, Yamaguchi Prefecture, whose first generation is said to have been a potter who came from Korea. Since Kan’ei 2 (1625), the family has borne the name “Kouraizaemon,” serving for generations throughout the Edo period as official potters to the feudal domain.

Hagi ware is cherished for its simple, gentle texture and for the characteristic known as Hagi no Nanabake (“Hagi’s Seven Transformations”), in which the appearance changes the more it is used—a quality long admired by tea masters. As the domain’s official kiln, the Saka family preserved the traditions of Hagi ware and handed down its techniques. Today, the fifteenth-generation head continues to uphold these traditions while incorporating contemporary sensibilities into his work. Their creations are highly esteemed both in Japan and abroad, and the family still plays an important role as one of the foremost representatives of Hagi ware.

The works of Kouraizaemon Saka inherit the traditions of Hagi ware, characterized by a simple, warm aesthetic. The glazes are typically based on soft white or pink hues, with fine crackle patterns known as kan’nyū. Through the Hagi no Nanabake effect, the colors and textures change with continued use.

The forms are often restrained and well-proportioned, exuding a sense of quietness and dignity. While tea utensils have long been the mainstay of their production, in recent years the family has expanded into tableware for everyday use, creating works that balance utility and beauty. It is said that Saka family pieces approach completion only through use, their charm deepening as they become part of daily life. Rooted in tradition yet reflecting the sensibilities of each generation, their pursuit of expressions suited to the times continues to captivate many admirers.

The Saka Kiln, located in Hagi City, Yamaguchi Prefecture, is one of the leading kilns of Hagi ware and carries on the Kouraizaemon Saka name. The first generation was a potter who came from Korea, opening a kiln in Hagi in the early Edo period and laying the foundation of Hagi ware. The Saka Kiln flourished as an official kiln of the domain, focusing mainly on tea utensils.

Hagi ware is known for its unpretentious clay texture and the Hagi no Nanabake transformation with use, and along with Raku and Karatsu ware, it is celebrated in the phrase, “First Raku, second Hagi, third Karatsu.” Loved by tea masters, the Saka Kiln has preserved this tradition for generations, and today, the fifteenth-generation Kouraizaemon Saka serves as its head.