After checking out from Royal Art Hotel, we met our Kyoto guide, Amy, and walked to Kurashiki station. From there, we took a train to Imbe via Okayama, leaving our overnight bags in station lockers. Imbe Station services the very small town of Bizen which has been producing pottery for more than 1000 years.
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| Items are dried for one year before firing. After firing, they are 80% of original size. |
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| Firing is not done in summer months as temperature in the kilns ranges from 1200 to 1900 degrees. Items are fired for 2 weeks and then stay in the kiln for 10 days. |
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Bizen pottery is produced using natural methods - pine to fire kiln, no glaze, no chemicals, no artificial colouring. Variations in colour relate to position in kiln, whether in contact with ashes or embers. Some pieces are wrapped in straw before firing.
David was not interested in the pottery so took no photos of the products for sale! But we have many photos of the Shinto shrine which features items all made from Bizen pottery.
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Iced tea
presented on Bizen pottery, which becomes smooth to touch with repeated use.
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Our
day at Imbe included an introduction to
Shinto beliefs and practices. Harmony with nature is a central Shinto
belief.
Amy showed us how
to wash our hands before entering a Shinto Shrine.
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Prayer cards
which are burnt after one year to send wishes to the gods
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Figures
representing happiness, longevity, health, study ...
Shrines
are simple as they contain only the spirits
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