Collection: Yakishime

Yakishime is pottery fired at high temperatures without any glaze. Rather than relying on a glassy coating for durability, the clay itself transforms during firing. The intense heat causes vitrification, leaving the surface dense, non-porous, and naturally finished.

The process takes place in traditional wood-fired kilns — anagama or noborigama — over extended periods, often more than a week. Ash from the fire settles on the clay and melts into subtle surface effects: muted colour shifts, natural texture, occasional flashing. No two pieces look the same.

Yakishime predates glazed ceramics entirely, and its continued use today is a choice, not a limitation. Several pottery regions — Bizen, Iga, Shigaraki, and Tokoname among them — have built their entire tradition around it. Bizen ware in particular uses no glaze at all, making each piece a direct record of the fire and the clay.

The results tend to be quiet and understated, with a depth that becomes more apparent over time and use. Read our article on Yakishime.