The day after arriving in Kumamoto we made an excurson by train to Arao to see koda-yaki and shoda-yaki ceramics. Both are of the Korean school, and were produced by the Hosokawa clan kiln beginning in the early 1600s. Koda-yaki is elaborately crafted pottery with beautiful insignia carved on blue porcelain. Shodai ware is distinguished by its earthy feeling and unbridled moods. The first shop we came to was the Shirohei Kiln shop.

November 15, 2007