Ōhi Chō

Ōhi Chō (大樋長): Potter's Name of Ōhi Ware from Kanazawa

Ōhi Chō (大樋長) is a potter's name within Ōhi ware, one of the most distinctive ceramic traditions of Japan. Ōhi-yaki is made in Kanazawa in Ishikawa Prefecture and counts among the Wakigama, the subsidiary kilns of the Raku tradition: the ware is hand-built without a potter's wheel and fired at low temperature, thus following the same technique as Kyōto Raku.

A Kiln in the Service of the Maeda Lords Since 1666

The history of the kiln begins around 1666. The first Ōhi Chōzaemon followed the Urasenke tea master Sensō to Kanazawa into the service of the Maeda lordly house, which maintained there one of the most splendid court cultures of Japan outside the great centers. From this connection of tea master, potter, and princely patron arose a tradition that continues to this day: the main line bears the name Ōhi Chōzaemon through eleven generations by now. The tenth bearer of the name was named a Person of Cultural Merit in 2004 and received the Order of Culture in 2011; the eleventh took on the name in 2016.

The Ame Glaze as a Distinguishing Feature

What makes Ōhi ware recognizable at first glance is the Ame-gusuri – an amber to deep brown glaze whose name derives from the Japanese word for malt sugar. During firing, lively, unpredictable transitions arise within it between glossy and matte areas, giving each piece its own individual character. Together with the soft, hand-formed body, this produces the characteristic warmth that distinguishes Ōhi ware from the more austere black Kyōto Raku.

On the Classification of the Name

The short form 大樋長 is ambiguous, since several potters with similarly formed names have worked and continue to work within the circle of the kiln; it does not therefore necessarily denote the main line Ōhi Chōzaemon. Which hand a particular piece is to be attributed to is determined by the potter's mark and the inscription on the accompanying wooden box (Tomobako), which belongs to the object with Ōhi ware and accompanies it across generations.

Ame Glaze: What to Look for in an Ōhi Piece

The Ame-gusuri is the distinguishing feature of Ōhi ware, and it turns out differently with every firing. On one and the same piece, amber-colored, deep brown, glossy, and matte zones alternate; where the glaze lies thinner, the shard shows through and the color becomes warmer. Anyone wishing to buy a Guinomi or a Chawan made of Ōhi ware should compare the detail photographs under different light, because the glaze changes depending on the angle of incidence. The second point is the weight: low-fired ware remains porous and light — one notices upon first lifting a piece whether it belongs to this tradition.