Earthquake Destroyed SUZU Kiln Again in MAY 2023 珠洲焼 篠原敬

Shinohara_Takashi

SUZU Shinohara Takashi Kiln was destroyed again by the earthquake on May 5, 2023. SHIHA TEAPOT SHOP contacted Mr. Shinohara and knew that he was going to rebuild his kiln again. 

2022, huge earthquake hit Suzu, Ishikawa Japan, and his kiln had destroyed. Shinohara Takashi just finished repairing his kiln in Dec 2022. Then he made and fired his works on Jan 2023 in this repaired kiln. Some of his works on our shop were made at this time. 


Shinohara Takashi Page
https://shihateapot.com/collections/shinohara

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The following article is translation(transcription) of the interview to Shinohara Takashi by MRO television in the following link (Japanese) .

MRO television (Video)  May 10, 2023
https://newsdig.tbs.co.jp/articles/mro/477765


Title:
I thought, for a moment, that I would close the kiln, too, said a Suzu Pottery artist whose kiln was destroyed by an earthquake last year and again this year...

The agony of a Suzu Pottery artist whose kiln was destroyed by an earthquake

Content:

On the 5th of May, 2023 an earthquake with an intensity of 6 on the Japanese seismic scale hit the city of Suzu in Ishikawa Prefecture.

At a studio in Suzu City that makes Suzu-yaki, a traditional handicraft, there was extensive damage, including the destruction of a kiln.

Mr. Takashi Shinohara, a Suzu pottery artist (Photo: MRO television)

About 100 pieces of his works were broken by the earthquake on the 5th of May, and the foundation of the building sunk in the workshop he has used for 28 years.

The most serious damage was to the kiln where he creates his works.

Takashi Shinohara,says : All the walls fell inside.

Reporter says: The bricks scattered here, were they originally from this wall?

Shinohara says:  Yes, that's right. The (support) arches are distorted because of this (side) tremor, and if they are left as they are, they may collapse during an aftershock, so we have to reassemble all of them.


 (Photo: MRO television)

Suzu ware produces a distinctive black color when the inside of the kiln is deprived of acidity, and the patterns created by the melting of wood ashes are brought to life. Therefore, if there is even a small gap in the kiln, the finished product will turn red.


After the earthquake last June (2022), the kiln was repaired over a two-month period starting in October, but this time the damage was so severe that the kiln had to be rebuilt.

Shinohara says: 

The last earthquake happened in June and the aftershocks continued quite a while, so I finally felt like fixing the kiln in October. I repaired the kiln and fired works for the first time at the end of the year, 2022.

The restoration was a success and good works were produced, so just when I thought I could use this kiln from now on, then an earthquake happened again!


 (Photo: MRO television)

Shinohara says it will take three to four months to rebuild the kiln this time. He is determined to protect and preserve this local traditional crafts SUZU-yaki (Suzu ware / Suzu Pottery)

Shinohara continues: 
It has been 40 years since the recovery of Suzu-yaki. The number of people has also started Suzu-yaki kiln, and social recognition has grown.

Then earthquake hit SUZU last year and this year. Last year, no potter closed down their kiln due to the earthquake, but this time, I am not so sure.

I thought, for a moment, that I was going to close down my kiln, too...

When I came to my studio at around 5 p.m. on the day of the earthquake, I saw the scattered pieces and the situation that was even worse than it looks now. When I saw it, I thought it was already over...

But I will manage.

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Please also see Japan Times (English New)  - May 10, 2023

Ishikawa Earthquake: Traditional Crafts Still Recovering from Last Year’s Quake Dealt Double Blow

https://japannews.yomiuri.co.jp/society/general-news/20230510-108755/

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Thank you very much for reading. We believe Mr. Shinohara will succeed rebuilding his kiln and produce great works again.

If you would like to send encouragement message to Mr. Shinohara Takashi, please send us at https://shihateapot.com/pages/contact-us
We forward it to Mr. Shinohara Takashi with Japanese translation.

Thank you very much.

SHIHA TEAPOT SHOP


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