What is Mikawachi porcelain?
Mikawachi porcelain, or mikawachi-yaki is a famous form of pottery from the Nagasaki prefecture. Its history dates back to the Imjin War of the 16th century, when the famous Shogun general Toyotomi Hideyoshi led campaigns into Korea, and brought back a number of Korean artisans with him to Hirado Island, the only area in Japan where foreigners were allowed. However, suitable earth was scarce there, and the kilns began to migrate south where they eventually settled in Mikawachi. It is said that it took three generations after the building of his kiln to develop the pearly-white translucent shine for which mikawachi-yaki is famous.
Among the varieties of Mikawachi, Gyokusen is particularly famous for "sukashibori", or the translucent effect created by thousands of hexagonal holes that allow light to shine through. These holes, each one made by hand, are spaced only millimeters apart, and are an example of the "delicacy" which is a regular theme of Masanori Fukumoto, head of the kiln and 14th generation to carry on the family business. His work is the main focus of Gyokusen.