Keep it long, treasure it long.

Kutani-ware Kagamimochi

Although the number of traditional events is decreasing, New Year's is still very special to us.Kagamimochi (mirror-shaped rice cakes) and New Year's decorations are indispensable in creating that atmosphere.Kagamimochi have long been cherished as a symbol of welcoming the gods of the New Year and wishing for the health and happiness of the family.In recent years, fewer households make Kagamimochi with real rice cakes, but the tradition is still passed down today with different materials.The Kutani Yaki Kagamimochi made by Kamide Choemon Kiln are characterized by the transparent and glossy white porcelain rice cake part and the vividly painted orange, which is unique to Kutani Yaki.In addition to being made of ceramic so that it can be displayed year after year, the rice cake part is a container, so that the original meaning of Kagamimochi can be passed on by putting washed rice or rice cakes inside.As a New Year's interior decoration, this kagamimochi reminds us of Japanese tradition and culture.

Wishing for good health and growth,

this mirror is made by shaping each piece by rokuro.The upper part of the mirror is hollow, and the upper part of the rice cake is inserted into the lower part of the mirror, making the mirror lightweight and stable.The lower part of the rice cake can be used as a container for New Year's sweets.Kagamimochi are believed to be inhabited by the god of the year, and it was believed that by opening the mirror and eating the Kagamimochi, one could bring luck and power into one's body and be blessed with good health and a bountiful harvest for the year.There is also a way to enjoy eating rice cakes in place of rice cakes on the day of Kagamibiraki, by putting rice cakes in the lower part of the rice cake.The front part of the mochi portion has no painting, but the inside has a "nebiki no matsu" (pine tree with roots) painted on it.The pine tree with its roots still attached is used in pine decorations for the entrance and gate at New Year's. The design is typical of Uide Choemon kilns.The design is typical of the Ueide Choemon Kiln and makes you happy when you see it.The orange on top of the rice cake is decorated with beautiful Kutani Yaki painting.The orange grows large without falling off the tree, so it is said to express the wish that the family will prosper from generation to generation.White plum: A reprint of a past design from the Ueide Choemon kiln.As the first flower to bloom after a harsh winter, the plum flower is a symbol of strong vitality and perseverance, and is said to be an auspicious flower for longevity.Ko-Kutani style: A gourd with ivy extending from it, painted in the Ko-Kutani style, which was created 360 years ago.The life-giving ivy is considered auspicious and is used as a family crest.Red painted clouds and dragons: Clouds and dragons are depicted in a bold, bird's-eye view composition.Dragons are believed to be beings that drive away evil spirits and bring wealth and good fortune.Kagamimochi, or mirrors, made of Kutani ware also remind us of Japanese tradition and culture.It is a New Year's interior that makes you look forward to decorating it.

Bringing Tradition into the Modern Age

Founded in 1877 in Terai-mura, Nomi County, Ishikawa Prefecture (now Terai-machi, Nomi City, Ishikawa Prefecture), Kamide Choemon Kama is a long-established Kutaniyaki potter with a history of over 135 years that covers the entire production process from molding to painting of porcelain.The handmade and hand-painted products are attractive for their colorful overglaze painting, deep color dyeing, and above all, their durable and beautiful fabrics.The colors, shapes, and handwritten designs of each item are designed to suit modern lifestyles while utilizing the traditional Kutaniyaki manufacturing method, and have a mysterious charm that attracts people who see and use Kutaniyaki, even if they are not familiar with the art.

Kutani-yaki, one of Japan's representative ceramics Kutani-yaki, like other pottery, began with people shaping and painting by hand.In the Edo period (1603-1867), the Maeda family, the feudal lords of Kaga, discovered pottery stones and began to produce porcelain, and later learned pottery techniques in Bizen Arita, which later expanded to include tea utensils.The characteristic feature of porcelain is that it is easy to use as tableware and pleasing to the eye, with various patterns on a clear white base. The appeal of porcelain is the color painting that shines on the hard glassy white base.Kamide Choemon Kama is a pottery that has mainly produced and sold arts and crafts, kappou tableware, and daily tableware, and continues to preserve the tradition of Kutaniyaki.Because it is hand-painted, no two pieces are alike.The fact that the painting changes depending on the craftsman who worked on it and the time of production also adds value to each piece.Kamide Choemon Kama insists on hand-painting because he believes that human hands have great potential.People are overwhelmed by the warmth, familiarity, and taste, or the skill and precision of handmade objects.Kamide Choemon Kiln continues to carefully produce and preserve hand-painted pottery with the belief that "what people produce in any age has great power to move people's hearts.