Obori Soma Ware, a traditional craft from Fukushima Prefecture, is known for its unique double-walled structure and blue crackle patterns. As pottery combining durability and beauty, it has been widely cherished from everyday tableware to gifts.
However, many people are unsure about its characteristics and what criteria to use when selecting pieces. This article introduces the appeal of Obori Soma Ware in an easy-to-understand manner and explains how to choose and utilize it in daily life.
Table of Contents
What is Obori Soma Ware?
Obori Soma Ware is traditional ceramics that has continued since the early Edo period in the Obori district of Namie Town, Fukushima Prefecture. Through its unique techniques and designs, it is connected to the culture of “Soma Nomaoi” and is known as pottery reflecting regional history and spirituality.
It features symbolic characteristics such as the double-walled “double firing,” the dynamic “running horse,” and the distinctive “blue crackle,” with works combining both practicality and artistry. Although makers have been dispersed since the Great East Japan Earthquake, production cooperatives and new generation artists are working on reconstruction and preservation, making purchases possible through nationwide exhibitions and online shops.
Three Symbols of Obori Soma Ware
The three symbolic characteristics are synonymous with Obori Soma Ware. First is “double firing,” where a unique technique of firing inner and outer layers separately creates vessels with excellent heat retention and insulation. Commonly seen in tea bowls and sake bottles, they remain easy to hold even when filled with hot contents and are suitable for everyday use.
Second is the painting called “running horse,” depicting horses with dynamic energy. Symbolizing Soma Nomaoi, it enjoys high popularity as decoration connected to regional culture. Third is the distinctive crazing pattern called “blue crackle,” where fine cracks in the glaze develop blue-green coloring, creating landscape-like depth.
By overlapping these three elements, Obori Soma Ware is valued as a unique craft combining practicality and artistry.
Current Makers and Brand Trends Available for Purchase
Even after being forced to relocate from the Obori district due to the earthquake and nuclear disaster, many kilns and artists continue their activities. Currently, while establishing workshops inside and outside Fukushima Prefecture, they cooperate centered around the Obori Soma Ware Cooperative, developing works that incorporate contemporary sensibilities while preserving traditional techniques.
As brand trends, in addition to conventional standard items such as tea bowls, sake bottles, and teacups, modern cups, tableware, and flower vases for interior decoration are increasing. Movements by young artists to cultivate new customer segments using online shops and crowdfunding are also active.
Additionally, efforts to establish English websites for overseas audiences are progressing, creating an environment where domestic and international collectors can easily obtain pieces.
The Story and History of Obori Soma Ware
Obori Soma Ware is pottery said to have begun in the early 17th century in the Obori district of Namie Town in Fukushima Prefecture’s coastal area. During the Edo period, it received patronage from the Soma domain and spread widely throughout the domain as everyday tableware. After the Meiji period, it was cherished as common people’s vessels, and entering the 20th century, it also circulated as tourist souvenirs and gifts.
The 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake and nuclear disaster forced evacuation from the Obori district, but makers continued activities by relocating bases inside and outside the prefecture. Currently attracting attention as a symbol of reconstruction and preservation, the production area is showing expansion in new forms.
Origins to Edo Period: Spread as Everyday Vessels
The beginning of Obori Soma Ware dates back to the 17th century with pottery industry encouragement under domain administration. Kilns were opened against the backdrop of abundant clay and fuel resources in the Obori district of Namie Town, producing tea bowls, sake bottles, and plates closely connected to daily life.
With the domain lord’s backing, it spread as “Soma Ware,” establishing a unique style characterized by running horse designs and blue crackle patterns. While valued as common people’s daily necessities, it was also used for gifts and festivals, deeply connecting with regional culture.
In the late Edo period, many kilns were established and production scale expanded with shipments throughout the coastal area. The characteristic of this period was establishing its position as pottery symbolizing the domain while being local daily tools.
Modern Era Onward: Preservation and Fresh Start Through the Earthquake
After the Meiji period, Obori Soma Ware was sold in tourist areas and urban centers, cherished as common craft items. During the Showa period, mass production and souvenir demand increased, with double-fired and running horse vessels widely used in homes and inns.
However, the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake and nuclear disaster forced all kilns in the Obori district to evacuate. Nevertheless, makers relocated to Nihonmatsu and Aizu, rebuilt workshops, and continued production.
Incorporating new distribution channels such as crowdfunding and online sales, movements balancing tradition and innovation progressed. Obori Soma Ware that overcame the earthquake is attracting nationwide attention as a symbol of reconstruction.
Reference: A general term for pottery produced in the Obori district of Namie Town, Futaba District, Fukushima Prefecture, with a history dating from the Edo period.
Current Production Areas of Obori Soma Ware
Currently, production bases for Obori Soma Ware are spreading throughout Fukushima Prefecture, including Nihonmatsu City and Aizuwakamatsu City, centered on reconstruction sites in Namie Town. In Namie Town, galleries and kiln sites have been developed at “Michi-no-Eki Namie” and reconstruction facilities, with movements toward local return progressing.
Multiple kilns have been rebuilt in Nihonmatsu, welcoming tourists and fans from outside the prefecture through hands-on workshops and exhibition sales. Furthermore, in Aizuwakamatsu, collaboration with the historic lacquerware industry is being explored, becoming a place for cross-regional craft exchange.
Additionally, with sales bases established in the Tokyo metropolitan area and online, it has evolved from a “single regional production area” to a “distributed network production area.” This expansion shows the current position of Obori Soma Ware newly formed through the earthquake.
Production Process and Techniques of Obori Soma Ware
The appeal of Obori Soma Ware is supported not just by design but by advanced techniques that create double firing, running horses, and blue crackle patterns. Its production process consists of multiple stages from clay selection to forming, firing, painting, glazing, and finishing, with each reflecting skilled craftsmen’s handiwork.
Particularly, double firing requires advanced forming techniques, establishing uniqueness not seen in other production areas. Also, running horse painting is symbolic decoration connected to domain culture, and blue crackle is landscape born from the wonder of glaze and firing.
These techniques are passed down master-to-apprentice style and continue to evolve into new expressions through modern craftsmen’s refinement.
Clay Preparation and Forming (Double Firing Technique)
The first step in Obori Soma Ware is clay preparation. Clay from around Namie contains iron and produces calm colors when fired. During the stage of refining this clay and forming with potter’s wheel, the characteristic “double firing” is applied.
By making inner and outer vessels separately and later combining them, double-walled vessels with excellent heat retention and durability are completed. This technique requires advanced wheel handling, and even slight errors lead to distortion or cracking, making experienced craftsmen’s expertise essential.
While double firing provides practical convenience, it also gives works unique thickness and layered texture, increasing artistic value. It’s the most distinctive element of Obori Soma Ware, showing the production area’s unique presence.
Painting and Expression of Running Horses
The “running horse” symbolizing Obori Soma Ware is a powerful horse figure drawn with brushwork, connected to the tradition of Soma Nomaoi. Craftsmen quickly move brushes across bisque-fired vessels, depicting valiant horse figures.
Lines without hesitation and brushwork imbued with dynamic energy are products of skilled technique. Running horses have long been cherished not just as decoration but as designs reflecting regional spirituality.
In contemporary times, artists incorporating diverse expressions and new designs beyond traditional black monochrome are increasing. Also, movements attempting modern compositions while preserving traditional brushwork are progressing, achieving evolution according to the times. For buyers, running horses are symbols of “Soma Ware-ness” and elements that enhance collection value.
Glazing, Firing, and Blue Crackle Patterns
Another characteristic of Obori Soma Ware, “blue crackle,” is a pattern naturally born through glaze and firing. When glaze is applied and fired at high temperature, fine crazing appears on the vessel surface, developing blue-green coloring.
No two crackle patterns are the same, highly valued as landscape where chance and natural beauty overlap. Glaze blending and kiln temperature control differ among craftsmen, showing each kiln’s individuality.
Methods of further infiltrating dye after firing to emphasize cracks also exist, increasing landscape depth. Blue crackle is a characteristic that sets Obori Soma Ware apart from other production areas and can be considered an important technique drawing out charm combining appreciation value and practicality.
Ways to Enjoy Obori Soma Ware
Obori Soma Ware is practical pottery usable in daily life while also strongly possessing artistic elements. Therefore, there are diverse ways to enjoy it: the pleasure of using tea bowls and teacups in daily life, the pleasure of displaying and appreciating them on shelves and in tokonoma alcoves, and the pleasure of collecting differences among historical periods and artists.
Because the three elements of double firing’s practicality, running horses’ symbolism, and blue crackle’s landscape each radiate appeal from different angles, different values can be felt depending on users and viewers.
Appeal as Everyday Vessels
Obori Soma Ware excels as practical items. The double-fired structure has excellent heat retention and insulation, remaining easy to hold even when filled with hot beverages, enhancing comfort in daily life. Not only teacups and rice bowls but also sake bottles and sake cups are popular, adding warmth to daily dining tables.
Also, blue crackle landscape increases in flavor with use, with the characteristic of enjoying aging changes. In contemporary times, some kilns develop series compatible with microwaves and dishwashers, balancing tradition and convenience.
A major way to enjoy Obori Soma Ware is feeling the vessels’ appeal closely through continued daily use.
Enjoyment as Appreciation and Interior Items
Running horse paintings and blue crackle patterns possess value for appreciating vessels themselves like artworks. When displaying tea bowls and sake bottles, the dynamic energy of designs and delicate crackle landscape tighten spaces, demonstrating presence as interior items.
Particularly, blue crackle that changes expression depending on light direction appears different by time and angle, never becoming boring. In recent years, works with high interior value such as flower vases and objets have also emerged, with the appeal of harmonizing not only with Japanese-style rooms but also Western-style spaces.
By practicing the enjoyment of not only using vessels but “displaying and appreciating” them, Obori Soma Ware becomes a craft that adds depth to daily life.
Collection and Investment Value
Obori Soma Ware enjoys high popularity as a collection object. From works with traditional designs to new challenges by contemporary artists, a wide range exists, allowing enjoyment of focused collecting around themes.
For example, collecting based on determined viewpoints such as “differences in running horse brushwork,” “changes in blue crackle landscape,” and “formative beauty of double firing” creates depth. Also, works by artists continuing activities after overcoming the earthquake attract attention for added narrative value and expected future evaluation.
In addition to collecting new works through exhibitions and online shops, collectors seeking antique works and limited editions are not few. The significant appeal of Obori Soma Ware collection is the meaning of passing it down not as mere consumer goods but as cultural assets.
Storage and Maintenance of Obori Soma Ware
While Obori Soma Ware possesses durability usable as practical items, appropriate handling is required to protect fine crackle patterns and paintings. Particularly, the double-fired structure and blue crackle crazing are delicate elements whose expressions change depending on usage.
By being mindful of daily washing and storage considerations, and attention to humidity and light, beauty can be maintained for long periods. Also, when chipping or cracking occurs, responses such as repair and refinishing are possible. Here we organize practical knowledge from daily management to professional repair and business usage points for long-term companionship with Obori Soma Ware.
Daily Washing and Storage Considerations
Obori Soma Ware is suitable for everyday use, but daily care is essential for long-term use. After use, wash with mild detergent using a soft sponge, avoiding strong friction and metal scrubbers as basics.
Because blue crackle patterns easily absorb liquids, leaving deeply colored beverages for extended periods may leave stains. Therefore, washing promptly after use and air drying is good. During storage, avoiding direct sunlight and storing in well-ventilated locations prevents glaze deterioration.
When storing in cupboards, inserting cloth or paper so vessels don’t collide prevents chipping. Small habits accumulate, leading to prolonging vessels’ appeal.
Repair and Response Methods for Chips and Cracks
Even if chips or cracks occur, Obori Soma Ware can be made usable again through repair. For small chips, repair using “kintsugi” with lacquer or gold powder can rather be enjoyed as new beauty.
For large cracks or damage, requesting specialized repair workshops is safe. Recently, Obori Soma Ware kilns and cooperatives have established repair consultation windows, proposing optimal methods according to vessel conditions.
Not only extending vessel life through repair but also enriching vessel stories is appealing. The cultural value perspective of appreciating repair marks also provides opportunities for collectors to deepen attachment.
Business Use and Durability Considerations
Obori Soma Ware is also utilized for business purposes such as inns and restaurants. Because double-fired vessels have high heat retention, they are valued as warm dishes and sake vessels, but being conscious of durability and maintenance cycles is important in business use.
While repeated use deepens blue crackle and increases flavor as landscape, attention is needed for easily chipped rim areas. For business use, selecting vessels with thickness or reinforced designs is reassuring.
Also, long-term use is possible by regularly requesting inspection and repair from specialized workshops. Usage experience cultivated in business use not only brings out vessels’ appeal but also provides users with “experiences touching authentic vessels.”
Future and Communication Possibilities of Obori Soma Ware
Obori Soma Ware has not only begun walking the path of regeneration after the earthquake but is also challenging new forms of communication. While inheriting traditional techniques, it’s acquiring new fan bases through product development and design collaborations suited to contemporary lifestyles.
Sales channel expansion through overseas exhibitions and online sales is also progressing, with expectations for recognition improvement not limited to domestic. Here we introduce future initiatives such as production area promotion movements, design collaborations, international expansion, and successor training, exploring new possibilities that Obori Soma Ware possesses.
Design Collaborations and New Product Development
In recent years, Obori Soma Ware has increasing products suited to contemporary lifestyles such as mugs, curry plates, and Western tableware in addition to conventional tea bowls and sake bottles. Through collaborations with designers and cross-industry brands such as JEANASIS’s new brand “eL,” Sho Sakurai’s “Words for the Future Exhibition PLAYFUL!,” Iwaki FC, and Momoiro Clover Z, new forms are created while utilizing traditional double firing and blue crackle, being accepted by younger generations and overseas customer segments.
For example, interior goods such as vases utilizing blue crackle patterns and small plates with running horse motifs have emerged. The KUROTERRACE series realizes contemporary design that “fits any cuisine or situation, Japanese, Western, or Chinese” through collaboration with Ogatsu inkstones, accelerating movements to refresh the image of “traditional crafts = old-fashioned” and root them in daily life as easily usable crafts.
Overseas Communication and Evaluation in International Markets
Obori Soma Ware receives high evaluation in European, American, and Asian markets as “a symbol of Japanese reconstruction and tradition.” Opportunities for introduction at overseas exhibitions and museum shops are increasing, with unique designs of running horses and blue crackle leaving strong impressions on local people.
Online shops are advancing English support, with movements establishing international shipping and multilingual explanations. Price ranges are wide from mid-level to luxury items, with popularity increasing in gift demand and interior markets.
Such international communication is becoming an opportunity for Obori Soma Ware to be recognized not just as regional craft but as a representative of Japanese culture.
Successor Training and Future of Production Area
Successor training is essential for sustainable development of Obori Soma Ware. Young people’s entry progressed during post-earthquake reconstruction, with workshops teaching techniques to parent-child and new craftsmen from outside regions.
Production areas are establishing systems to accept personnel aspiring to craftsmanship by developing training programs and experience programs. Furthermore, by linking with school education and tourism experiences, Obori Soma Ware’s appeal is conveyed to regional residents and next generations.
These initiatives not only connect production areas to the future but also become driving forces for evolving techniques and culture. The future vision of Obori Soma Ware can be said to be continuing development with new successors while preserving tradition.
Conclusion
Obori Soma Ware is a craft deeply connected to regional culture, supported by unique techniques and designs such as double firing, running horses, and blue crackle. It spread as common people’s vessels in the Edo period, continued to be loved as souvenirs and daily vessels after the modern era, and has achieved regeneration and evolution even after the earthquake.
Currently, while based in Namie and expanding to Nihonmatsu and Aizu, it’s acquiring new value through design collaborations and overseas communication. It has diverse ways of enjoyment including practical use, appreciation, and collection, with the appeal of long-term companionship through storage and repair. Obori Soma Ware will attract further attention domestically and internationally as a craft not only preserving tradition but also pioneering the future.
