The Kilns and History of OUJIGAMA — Climbing Kiln to Today

Founded in the mid-Edo period

OUJIGAMA was founded in Seto in the mid-Edo period. Firing was done in a noborigama, a climbing kiln built up a slope as a series of connected chambers and fuelled with wood — the kiln that sustained Seto's stoneware for centuries.

Our climbing kiln had thirteen chambers, reduced to eleven after the war.

1900: the moro is built

In 1900 (Meiji 33) the workshop building we still use, the moro, was built. It houses the clay store and the wheel room and has almost no windows, to keep the clay from drying. A single motor drives several wheels and the clay mixer, a mechanism preserved intact.

Because this structure survives in such good condition, the building is designated a Tangible Cultural Property by the City of Seto.

The moro today: the clay store and wheel room — The moro, built in 1900 and still in daily use

1968: the last firing of the climbing kiln

At eight in the morning on 3 May 1968, the climbing kiln at OUJIGAMA was fired for the last time.

The filmmaker Masami Kato of Seto recorded that final firing. His documentary Oujigama was selected at the Cannes Film Festival the same year and won the Grand Prix at an international competition in Canada. What the film preserves is a way of firing that can no longer be seen.

The last firing of the climbing kiln, smoke rising, onlookers watching (1968) — 3 May 1968: the last firing of the climbing kiln

Fire at the mouths of the climbing kiln (historical photograph) — Firing the climbing kiln

Craftsmen with mortars fresh from the kiln

The oil kiln, and today

The following year, 1969, OUJIGAMA moved to a kiln fired with heavy oil. Our Shino-glazed suribachi date from around this time.

The kiln under its roof — The heavy-oil kiln used from 1969

Inside the kiln: brick arches — Inside the kiln: the brick arches remain

Today OUJIGAMA continues to make suribachi and other vessels in Higashibora-cho, Seto.

Timeline

Year	Event
Mid-Edo period	Founded in Seto
1900	The moro workshop is built; later designated a Seto City Tangible Cultural Property
9 August 1946	Maruasa Seitosho incorporated
3 May 1968	Last firing of the climbing kiln. The documentary Oujigama is selected at Cannes and wins the Grand Prix at an international competition in Canada
1969	Move to a heavy-oil kiln
2024	Change to a gas kiln
Today	Suribachi, tableware and vases, centred on Shino glaze

About OUJIGAMA →