備前焼 (Bizen-yaki)
Bizen-yaki (備前焼) is Japan's most ancient continuing ceramic tradition — one of the Six Ancient Kilns (六古窯 Rokkoyo) and the only major Japanese ceramic tradition that uses no glaze whatsoever: color, surface texture, and decorative effects are entirely the product of the kiln atmosphere and flame interaction with the clay body. The Bizen clay (胡麻土 gomado — sesame earth) is iron-rich, coarse, and fires to a range from warm red-brown to dark gray, with surface effects including goma (ゴマ — sesame: fly ash deposited by kiln atmosphere), hi-dasuki (緋たすき — flame sash: rice straw wrapped around pots produces red-orange resist marks in the firing), and yohen (窯変 — kiln transformation: unpredictable but controlled atmospheric effects). The critical knowledge is kiln loading: the potter must predict how each position in the multi-day anagama firing will interact with flame, ash, and atmosphere to produce specific surface effects.
Risk level: Endangered · Japan national Important Intangible Cultural Property; Six Ancient Kilns UNESCO designation pending
Collection of fallen Camellia japonica seeds on Izu Ōshima and their crushing, brief steaming and hot pressing into oil, used for centuries as hair oil and also for cooking and cosmetics.
Arayachi (荒焼, 'rough-fired ware') is the unglazed branch of Tsuboya ware, Okinawa's principal pottery tradition — the stoneware of storage: great water jars, awamori and miso jars, and many shisa guardian lions.
Production of incense sticks on Awaji Island, Hyogo, which makes about 70% of Japan’s incense.
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