A Story of Beginnings Told by the Clay ── The Earth's Memory in the Paleo-Biwa Lake Group

When we talk about what makes Shigaraki ware so unique, it all comes back to its 'clay.' The clay sourced from the Shigaraki region originates from sediment deposited around 4 million years ago when the area was the bottom of a massive lake. This geological layer, formed by the slow accumulation of soil, sand, and the remains of flora and fauna at the bottom of the 'Paleo-Biwa Lake' (the precursor to today's Lake Biwa), is known as the Kobiwako-sōgun (Paleo-Biwa Lake Group). The clay extracted from this stratum turned out to have several properties that made it ideal for pottery.

What's particularly fascinating are two seemingly contradictory properties of this clay. The first is its high 'plasticity' (its stickiness or workability), as it contains many fine particles, making it easy to shape on a potter's wheel. The second is its remarkable 'fire resistance,' which allows it to withstand intense heat, ensuring that even large pieces don't collapse during firing. The abundance of high-quality clay that perfectly balanced these two characteristics is arguably the single greatest reason Shigaraki flourished as one of Japan's premier pottery regions.

Moreover, Shigaraki has long been situated at a crucial transportation crossroads, connecting cultural centers like Kyoto and Nara with the Tokai region. This geographical advantage not only spurred the inflow of advanced techniques and information but also made it easier to ship finished products to major consumer markets. On top of that, the area was blessed with rich forest resources, indispensable for fueling the traditional wood-fired kilns (makigama). Shigaraki ware, therefore, wasn't just a happy accident; it was an art form destined to take root in this very land, born from a complex interplay of geological wonders and favorable geographic and cultural conditions.