| abstract
| - Kutaniyaki was first produced in 1655 in the city of Kaga. The first kiln was set up at the present-day Yamanaka Onsen Kutani in the city, upon discovery of high-quality potter's clay in the area. It was then known as kokutani, with bold-coloured designs characterized by its motifs of birds, flowers, mountains and water. Maeda Toshiharu ordered Gotō Saijirō to go to Arita in Saga Prefecture to learn how to make porcelain. Maeda did this to increase his political and personal fortune. Recently, a theory has been put forward that most or all of the Kokutani ware was actually created in Arita rather than just influenced by the ceramics being created there. Kokutani enjoyed popularity for the next few decades until the Kutani suddenly closed down in 1730. The reasons for this closure are debated. Theories put forward include that supplies of the pigments necessary for the glazing were difficult to find, or that there were financial difficulties. This period of production is now referred to as the Old Kutani(古九谷Kokutani). In 1810 - some 80 years later - kutaniyaki was re-established, with the help of several kamamoto or production potters. New overglaze painting techniques from various kamamoto-es were infused in the development of kutaniyaki. 6 different overglazing techniques dominate the new form of kutaniyaki: the Mokubei style, influenced by Chinese ink painting techniques. The colours of green, yellow, purple and dark blue form the basis of the Yoshidaya style. Contrasting the Yoshidaya is the Eiraku style, with its simplistic coatings of gold on the first coat of red colour. The Iidaya style, or the Hachirode breaks away from the conventional nature-themed kutani style, with minute paintings of human figures on a red - gold mix background. The Shoza style is a blend of all four techniques of overglazing. A memorial to Gotō has been erected near an old Kutani ware kiln in the city of Kaga. The style of producing Kutani was named a traditional craft in 1975. There are now several hundred companies which produce Kutani ware.
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