ARTISAN 5. 米田陶香堂（九谷焼 / 磁器 / 石川県）

 

Who.  米田陶香堂　/　Yoneda Tokodo

What. 九谷焼 (磁器)　/　Kutani Ware (porcelain)

Where. 石川県　/　Ishikawa prefecture

 

石川県能美市（のみし）高坂町にある九谷焼窯元。1907年（明治40年）九谷焼の置物専門店として創業。現在で4代目となっても、当時と変わらず縁起物の置物をメインに取り扱っています。

穏やかな田舎な雰囲気の高坂町。お店から少し歩くと広い田園風景が広がり、彼方には霊峰 白山を望む。山と反対方向に車を約3分走らせると、見えてくる雄大な日本海。晴れているとドライブがてら足を伸ばしたくなる場所です。

Yoneda Tokodo, a Kutani Ware kiln located in Takasaka town, Nomi City, Ishikawa Prefecture, was founded in 1907 as a store specializing in Kutani pottery figurines. Now in its fourth generation, the shop continues to deal mainly in ornaments for good luck, just as it did then.

Takasaka town has a peaceful rural atmosphere. A short walk from the store leads to a wide rural landscape with mountains. A three-minute drive in the opposite direction of the mountain will take you to the magnificent Sea of Japan. When the weather is clear, it is a place where you will want to stretch your legs after a drive.

絵付け場の様子。絵の具を調合し「いつもの」色を作っていく。

A scene of the painting area. Mixing paints and making "usual" colors.

 

米田陶香堂さんの歴史を遡ること明治時代、九谷焼の置物に可能性を見つけた創業者 初代米田五三郎氏。当時はまだ主流ではなかった九谷焼の置物生産を本格的に始動し、日本で唯一の九谷焼置物商人として、日本中に置物を持ち歩いて販路開拓を行いました。器物（うつわもの）が主流であった九谷焼において、置物を商品として独自の地位を確立に寄与した第一人者だったのでした。

Yoneda Tokodo's history dates back to the Meiji Era, when the founder, Gozaburo Yoneda I, saw the potential in Kutani ware figurines. He started full-scale production of Kutani Ware figurines, which were not yet mainstream at the time, and as the only Kutani Ware figurine merchant in Japan, he took his figurines all over Japan to develop sales channels. He was a pioneer in establishing Kutani Ware as a unique product in the Kutani Ware industry, where pottery was the mainstream.

 

二代米田五三郎の代になると、当時はハイカラだった商品写真アルバム（現在のカタログ）を活用し始めます。カタログを持ち歩き、カタログ販売を駆使した販路拡大を進めていきました。

By Gozaburo Yoneda II's generation, the company began to utilize product photo albums (today's catalogs), which were very fashionable at the time. Carrying the catalogs around with them, the company expanded its sales channels by making full use of catalog sales.

 

当時のカタログ。当時はモノクロの写真でもかなり優れた情報伝達手段。技巧を凝らしたあらゆる置物が何ページにも渡って掲載されている。

Catalogs of the time. At that time, even black-and-white photographs were a fairly good means of communicating information. The catalogs were filled with pages and pages of all kinds of figurines of exquisite craftsmanship.

 

 

二〜三代目は海外貿易も行い、アジア・欧米への販路も広げ、九谷焼を海外へも広めて行きました。

The second and third generations also engaged in overseas trade, expanding sales channels to Asia, Europe, and the United States and promoting Kutani Ware overseas.

 

 

窯元の職人へ口癖のように、「高くついてもよい、もっと良いものを作れ、もっと良いものを作れ」と強く要望し、良心的で価値ある置物を目指した初代 五三郎氏。その想いを代々引き継ぎ、質の高い九谷焼製品創出をモットーにしています。

現在は三名の職人さんの手によって、伝統的な絵付け技法が紡がれています。

As he was fond of saying to the kiln's craftsmen, Gozaburo I strongly requested them to "Make better and better products, even if they cost more," aiming for conscientious and valuable figurines. Inheriting his thoughts from generation to generation, the company's motto is to create high quality Kutani Ware products.

Today, the traditional painting technique is spun by the hands of three craftsmen.

 

盛り絵付けと呼ばれる絵付技法。イッチンという道具で、絵の具を搾り出しながら立体感を持たせ描いていく。

A painting technique called Mori (raised decoration). Using a tool called an itchin, paint is squeezed out while creating a three-dimensional effect.

　

　

米田陶香堂の商品はこちら。

Yoneda Tokodo products are available here.