しらいわやきわへえがま

　和兵衛窯は、秋田県に江戸時代から伝わる白岩焼の伝統を受け継ぐ唯一の窯元です。明治期に途絶えてしまった窯の火を再興して、五十年となりました。

　雪深く、陶芸に向くとは言えないこの土地に根ざし、あきたこまちのモミの灰など秋田ならではの材料を用いて制作をつづけています。

　しなやかに、力強く、これからも和兵衛窯は伝統と革新のただなかに在りたいと思います。

 Shiraiwa ware is a historical pottery that was founded 250 years ago in Akita, a northern part of Japan. Wahee Pottery is a small pottery that is run by a family of just three, who have inherited the tradition of making Shiraiwa ware. 

 Shiraiwa ware’s bright blue and expressive appearance is highlighted by its glaze made from the ashes of rice husks, called namako glaze. The ashes of the rice husks of the locally-harvested Akitakomachi rice that is harvested in Akita, which is one of the biggest breadbaskets of Japan, is an indispensable material for making this glaze. We do not use any artificial colorants, but use natural materials and a lot of time and effort to create this vivid blue color. 

 Akita is also known for being a region of heavy snowfall. The contrast between the blue and white namako glaze and the reddish brown clay of the ground is very similar to the scenery of the snowdrift season in Akita, when the earth can be seen in between the pale snow. For the people of Akita, the transition from winter to spring is long awaited, and that is why it is a special time of the year. Shiraiwa ware is pottery that　captures these moments of the season.  

 Please enjoy its unique color and shape, allowing you to feel both the coldness of winter and the warmth of spring that the land of Akita nurtures.