Accordance with Japanese Zodiac, 2014 is the year of the Horse. Three years have passed Fukushima's Earthquake, "Obori Soma Pottery" started their activity. They bought a new land and started to use new materials. We also started to cooperate to be one of their supporter, and to handle their products directly from their kiln to our stock. Please look at this three-hundred years old traditional handicraft, and feel the warmth and gentle simplicity of Obori Soma Pottery.

Double wall tea cup
Double wall tea cup 2 pcs.

“Obori Soma Pottery" is the generic name of the pottery produced in Fukushima Prefecture Futaba-gun, Namie-town. This rustic pottery which had been brought up in climate of snow-deep northern Tohoku district was founded in Edo period, 300 years ago. It's the first year of Genroku, a Samurai of Nakamura clan, Hidari-Uma (左馬 means a horse faced to the left.) founded this pottery and the products had spread throughout Japan. And also they have the traditional festival, “Soma horse chasing in field", Obori Soma Pottery have been preferred as a luck item. In 1978, it was designated as traditional crafts of Japan and they continue to study about design and technique to meet the needs from everyone.

Since the Eastern Japan earthquake and Tsunami in 2011, 25 of Obori Soma pottery has been forced evacuation from Futaba-gun Namie-town which is located within 20 kilometers from the Fukushima 1st. nuclear power plant. Most of the craftsman is thinking to stop to work forever in their life. Takeshi Matsunaga who is the fourth generation of Matsunaga kiln is now continuing the creative activity in the co-kiln of Fukushima Nihonmatsu city and exploring the new shape of Obori Soma Pottery through the reconstruction assistance such as the exchange of the kilns in Soma and the holding pottery fair.

"Dedicated Horse" of old Soma clan is drawn.
“Running Horse” is said the style of penmanship of Kano group.
"Hidari-Uma(Horse faced to the left)" has been preferred as a good luck from the meaning "There is no competitor coming in your right side of you, so you can be the top of the world.”
It is also put the hope that everything will be going well.

Their Cracks called "Blue Cracks " are put spread to the whole body of the cup.
With beautiful and delicate cracking sound that was chosen as "30 sounds of Beautiful Fukushima", when it's baked, the cracks pattern is put from the temperature difference in the shrinkage percentage of the glaze and the material.

As shown on the picture, the double wall tea cup was created with their wisdom of living. It will keep long your drink hot or cold and it will keep your hands safe when you put very hot drink.

“Obori Soma Pottery" is the generic name of the pottery produced in Fukushima Prefecture Futaba-gun, Namie-town. Since the Eastern Japan earthquake and Tsunami in 2011, 25 of Obori Soma pottery has been forced evacuation from Futaba-gun Namie-town which is located within 20 kilometers from the Fukushima 1st. nuclear power plant. Most of the craftsman is thinking to stop to work forever in their life. Takeshi Matsunaga who is the fourth generation of Matsunaga kiln is now continuing the creative activity in the co-kiln of Fukushima Nihonmatsu city and exploring the new shape of Obori Soma Pottery through the reconstruction assistance such as the exchange of the kilns in Soma and the holding pottery fair.