Reading 'Keshiki': A Beauty Born from Chance, Not by Design

The most essential concept for understanding the design of Shigaraki ware is 'keshiki' meaning 'scenery.' This term reflects a uniquely Japanese aesthetic of appreciating the various patterns and color changes on a vessel's surface as if they were a natural landscape. The artisan doesn't seek to perfectly control the fire; instead, they draw out its power, embracing the accidental chemical reactions that occur inside the kiln. The one-of-a-kind expressions fired onto the surface are the very essence of Shigaraki ware's design.

One of the main elements that make up this 'keshiki' is 'hiiro' or 'fire color.' This is a warm, pale red or orangey hue created when the iron in the clay is fired with sufficient oxygen, a process known as 'oxidation firing' (sanka shōsei). This color, reminiscent of the warmth of human skin, is particularly prized as it stands out beautifully against the white clay body. What's fascinating is that the name 'hiiro' itself perfectly captures the essence of this phenomenon, where the fire's work draws out the clay's expression.

Next on the list of 'keshiki' highlights is 'shizen'yū' or natural ash glaze. This phenomenon occurs when ash from the burning firewood lands on the piece during firing, melts at temperatures exceeding 1200°C, and reacts with the silica in the clay to naturally form a glassy layer. Also known as 'biidoro-yū' for its beautiful greenish luster, it creates fluid, unpredictable patterns entirely different from hand-applied glazes. You never know where the ash will fall or how it will melt until the kiln is opened. This accidental nature, beyond human control, is the greatest appeal of natural ash glaze and the source of its one-of-a-kind creations.

Also, 'koge' or scorch marks, are another vital element that adds depth to the 'keshiki' of Shigaraki ware. These marks form when a piece is buried in ash or embers during firing. The area experiences extreme oxygen deprivation, or 'reduction firing' (kangen shōsei), causing it to carbonize into a dark brown or black, gritty texture. While seemingly rough, this expression has been particularly favored in the world of wabi-cha (the tea ceremony aesthetic of rustic simplicity), highly valued for evoking the power of harsh nature and a quiet, weathered elegance.

And finally, the feature that most directly conveys the power of the clay is 'ishihaze' or stone bursts. Shigaraki clay is intentionally left unrefined, containing coarse particles like feldspar 'chōseki', a glassy mineral that acts as a flux during high-temperature firing). These stone particles, unable to withstand the clay's shrinkage during firing, pop through the surface as if bursting from within or create cracks around them. This is 'ishihaze.' It is a design feature born from the very character of Shigaraki clay, a symbol of unhidden, 'as-is' beauty.