Imado Ware: History and Present of Tokyo’s Representative Ceramic Production Center
What is Imado Ware
Imado ware (imadoyaki) is a general term for ceramics that have been fired in the Imado and Hashiba areas and their surrounding regions in Taito Ward, Tokyo. It flourished from the Edo period through the Meiji period, and developed as an important ceramic production center in the Tokyo metropolitan area. Using unglazed firing and raku techniques, it produced items closely related to the lives of common people, such as everyday utensils, tea ceremony utensils, clay dolls, fire basins, flower pots, and roof tiles.
The present-day Imado area in Taito Ward is located on the banks of the Sumida River, and prospered as a pottery production center representative of Edo by taking advantage of the favorable location where high-quality clay could be extracted. In particular, clay dolls called “Imado dolls” and beckoning cats are widely known as representative works of Imado ware.
History of Imado Ware
Origins and Early Period
There are various theories about the origins of Imado ware, but reliable records are limited. According to tradition, there is a theory that a retainer of the Chiba clan began producing pottery around Imado during the Tenshō era (1573–1591). It is also said that after Tokugawa Ieyasu entered Edo, potters from Mikawa Province moved to Imado and opened kilns.
The oldest reliable record is the pedestal of a guardian dog statue that exists at Imado Shrine. This pedestal is inscribed with the names of 42 potters who made an offering in Hōreki 2 (1752), confirming that numerous kiln owners had established themselves there by the mid-18th century. This record serves as valuable evidence showing that Imado had already been established as an important ceramic production center by the mid-Edo period.
Prosperity in the Edo Period
During the Edo period, Imado ware developed as an important industry supplying necessary goods for the daily lives of common people. It was possible to procure clay through the water transport of the Sumida River and to distribute products, and proximity to Edo as a huge consumption center supported the growth of the production center.
By the end of the Edo period, there were more than 50 homes producing Imado ware, and the Imado area became a vibrant ceramic region where kiln smoke never ceased. Production items centered on practical everyday utensils, with large quantities of charcoal braziers, fire basins, clay teapots, flower pots, and roof tiles being produced. Additionally, clay dolls as items of good fortune were important products, with figurines of sumo wrestlers, Fukusuke, foxes, and horses being made and beloved among the common people.
From Meiji to Taisho Period
Imado ware production continued into the Meiji period, but the wave of modernization gradually began to affect traditional pottery production. The introduction of Western-style ceramic manufacturing techniques and intensified competition from other production centers gradually reduced the scale of the production center.
However, the simple aesthetic characteristic of Imado ware and the warmth of clay dolls continued to be loved by people. In particular, the beckoning cat maintained its popularity as a representative product of Imado ware.
The Great Kanto Earthquake and the Shift of Production Centers
The Great Kanto Earthquake of Taishō 12 (1923) dealt a devastating blow to the Imado ware production center. Many factories and kilns in the Imado area collapsed, and damage from fire was also severe. In the wake of this earthquake, many potters were forced to relocate in search of new locations.
After the earthquake, most production bases relocated along the Arakawa and Nakagawa rivers in Katsushika Ward. The name “Imado ware” and its techniques were inherited in these areas, and production continued until around Shōwa 40 (1965). However, due to changes in lifestyle during the period of rapid economic growth and the widespread availability of inexpensive mass-produced goods, Imado ware production in Katsushika Ward gradually declined and has now ceased entirely.
Characteristics and Manufacturing Methods of Imado Ware
Materials and Techniques
The greatest characteristic of Imado ware is the use of unglazed firing or raku techniques, which involve firing at relatively low temperatures. The clay used is primarily sourced from around the Sumida River in the local area, and iron-rich red clay produces its characteristic color.
Unglazed firing is a technique where pieces are fired without glaze, and the texture of the clay is expressed as is. Raku, on the other hand, is a technique where glaze is applied after firing at low temperatures, and is characterized by a warm aesthetic. Through these techniques, mass production became possible while creating products that conveyed the warmth of handcraftsmanship.
Representative Products
Representative products of Imado ware include the following:
Everyday utensils: Fire basins, charcoal braziers, clay teapots, flower pots, and other practical items indispensable to the daily lives of Edo commoners were produced in large numbers. These items became widely distributed due to their affordability, durability, and high practicality.
Roof tiles: Imado ware is said to have originated in tile manufacturing and was an important product supporting architectural demand in Edo. They were efficiently supplied throughout Edo using the water transport of the Sumida River.
Clay dolls (Imado dolls): Figurines of sumo wrestlers, Fukusuke, foxes, horses, and other items of good fortune were produced. Simple and charming expressions were characteristic and endeared them to the common people.
Beckoning cats: As the most representative product of Imado ware, they are particularly famous. Imado is said to be one of the birthplaces of the beckoning cat, and legends concerning the origin of the beckoning cat are preserved at Imado Shrine. Simple beckoning cats painted with red and black on a white background remain popular as items of good fortune to this day.
Tea ceremony utensils: Tea bowls and incense burners made using raku techniques were also produced. As products following the tradition of raku initiated by Sen no Rikyū, they were favored by tea practitioners.
Positioning as a Ceramic Production Center in Tokyo
Ceramic Culture of Edo and Tokyo
When one thinks of ceramic production centers in Japan, famous regional centers like Arita ware, Seto ware, Mino ware, and Bizen ware come to mind, but Edo (Tokyo) also had a unique ceramic culture. Imado ware was a representative example and functioned as an important ceramic production center in the Tokyo metropolitan area.
Besides Imado ware, ceramic production centers in Tokyo included Shinagawa ware (Shinagawa Ward) and Oyaniwa ware (various daimyo residences), but in terms of mass production for common people, Imado ware was the largest in scale and influence.
Contributions to Regional Economy and Culture
Imado ware contributed greatly not only to the production of crafts but also to the development of the regional economy and culture. Through the concentration of numerous kiln owners, it supported the livelihoods of many people including potters, craftsmen, and merchants, and promoted the development of the town surrounding Imado.
Additionally, items of good fortune such as Imado dolls and beckoning cats became established as part of Edo’s popular culture and became indispensable to annual events and celebrations. These products became symbols of Edo’s urban culture and are still recognized as part of Tokyo’s traditional culture today.
Current State of Imado Ware
Existing Craftspeople and Transmission
After the Great Kanto Earthquake, the scale of Imado ware as a production center was drastically reduced, but the tradition has not been entirely lost. There are craftspeople in Taito Ward who continue to inherit Imado ware techniques.
In particular, the Shirai family is a long-established kiln with a history of manufacturing and selling Imado ware in Imado since the Edo period and continues to operate as the only Imado ware craftsperson in the ward today. They manufacture and sell approximately 80 types of dolls and products for temples and shrines, working to preserve and transmit traditional techniques.
Protection as Cultural Property
The cultural value of Imado ware has been recognized, and Taito Ward has designated “Imado ware making” as an intangible cultural property of the ward and is working to protect it. Through this, efforts are made to record and preserve traditional techniques and to support the cultivation of successors.
Additionally, historical materials and works related to Imado ware are preserved at Imado Shrine and other nearby temples and shrines, transmitting the history of the production center to the present. A monument marking the birthplace of Imado ware has also been erected and is preserved as a commemorative monument showing the historical production center.
Utilization as a Tourism Resource
In recent years, Imado ware has garnered attention as a traditional craft of Tokyo and as a tourism resource. The number of tourists visiting Imado Shrine and the monument marking the birthplace of Imado ware as part of tourism routes around Asakusa has increased.
In particular, the beckoning cat is popular worldwide as an item symbolizing Japanese culture, and Imado, said to be one of its birthplaces, has become a pilgrimage site for beckoning cat enthusiasts. A large statue of a beckoning cat is placed at Imado Shrine and is popular as a power spot for romance and matchmaking.
Imado Ware and Beckoning Cats
Theory of the Beckoning Cat’s Origin
There are multiple theories about the origin of the beckoning cat, but Imado is considered one of the leading candidates. According to the Imado theory, in the late Edo period, an elderly woman living in Imado had to give up her beloved cat due to poverty. That night, the cat appeared in her dream and told her, “If you make a figurine of myself, it will bring good fortune.” The old woman then made a cat figurine of Imado ware and sold it in the precincts of Sensoji Temple, where it became a great sensation, and her life became prosperous. This is a tradition that has been passed down.
The truth of this tradition is uncertain, but it is certain that beckoning cats made of Imado ware have been produced since the Edo period and were beloved among the common people as items of good fortune.
Characteristics of Imado Ware Beckoning Cats
Imado ware beckoning cats are made using unglazed firing or raku techniques and are characterized by a simple design painted with red and black on a white background. Most are rounded and charming in form, and their simple expressions are attractive.
Today, beckoning cats made of Imado ware using traditional techniques are treasured by collectors and enthusiasts as prized pieces that convey the warmth of handcraftsmanship and the weight of history.
Comparison with Other Ceramic Production Centers
Ceramic Production Centers in the Kanto Region
Besides Imado ware, several other ceramic production centers existed in the Kanto region. Kasama ware (Ibaraki Prefecture) and Mashiko ware (Tochigi Prefecture) are representative examples, but they possess characteristics different from Imado ware.
Kasama ware began in the mid-Edo period and continues to be actively produced today. Mashiko ware developed substantially in the Meiji period and established a unique aesthetic under the influence of the folk crafts movement. In comparison, Imado ware, as a production center in the vicinity of an urban area, was characterized by mass-producing more practical and popular items.
Differences from Major Production Centers Nationwide
Compared to high-grade porcelain such as Arita ware and Kutani ware, and traditional pottery such as Bizen ware and Shigaraki ware, Imado ware has the following characteristics:
- Populism: It centered on everyday items rather than luxury goods and had affordable prices.
- Proximity to urban centers: Located near Edo, a major consumption area, it could respond quickly to demand.
- Diversity: A wide range of products were produced, from roof tiles to clay dolls.
- Focus on unglazed and raku firing: It was primarily centered on unglazed and raku firing rather than high-temperature fired porcelain or glazed pottery.
Through these characteristics, Imado ware occupied a unique position that combined mass production with the goodness of handcraftsmanship.
Culture and Traditions Surrounding Imado Ware
Imado Shrine and Potters’ Faith
Imado Shrine was the center of faith for Imado ware potters. The names of 42 potters inscribed on the guardian dog pedestal of Hōreki 2 (1752), mentioned above, demonstrate that they had deep faith in the shrine and were unified as a community.
The shrine functioned not only as a place to pray for technical improvement and business prosperity among the potters but also as a place for information exchange and mutual assistance. Today, Imado Shrine is known as a shrine for beckoning cats and romantic matchmaking and draws many worshippers.
Imado Ware Depicted in Woodblock Prints
Woodblock prints from the Edo period that depict Imado ware products and landscapes around Imado have survived. In works such as Hiroshige Utagawa’s “One Hundred Famous Views of Edo,” the town of Imado is depicted alongside scenes of the Sumida River area.
Additionally, in woodblock prints depicting the lives of common people, Imado ware products such as fire basins and clay dolls sometimes appear as scenes from daily life. These woodblock prints serve as valuable material visually demonstrating how deeply rooted Imado ware was in the lives of Edo’s people.
Imado Ware in Literary Works
References to Imado ware are scattered throughout literary works and essays from the Edo period. Works recording Edo landmarks, such as the “Illustrated Guide to Famous Places in Edo,” contain descriptions of Imado’s pottery industry and serve as clues to understanding conditions at the time.
The Future of Imado Ware
Challenges in Transmitting Traditional Techniques
Imado ware currently faces an existence crisis. The aging of craftspeople and shortage of successors are serious problems, and the transmission of traditional techniques to the next generation has become an urgent issue.
Taito Ward and Tokyo are providing support through designation as intangible cultural property and certification of traditional craft artisans, but to enable the industry to continue sustainably, the creation of new demand and the development of products suited to modern lifestyles are necessary.
Possibilities in Modern Times
On the other hand, there are also tailwinds for Imado ware, such as increased interest in traditional crafts and renewed recognition of the value of handmade items. The following initiatives hold potential to open the future of Imado ware:
Partnerships with tourism: The development of tours incorporating the history of Imado ware and production experiences can be considered as tourism resources in the Asakusa and Ueno areas.
Fusion with contemporary design: The development of products that make use of traditional techniques while fitting modern living spaces is anticipated.
Educational programs: Opportunities to learn about local history and traditional culture through Imado ware production experiences can be provided in school education and lifelong learning settings.
Opening overseas markets: International interest in Japanese traditional crafts is high, and beckoning cats in particular have international recognition. There are possibilities for overseas expansion utilizing this.
Digital Age Recording and Preservation
As the transmission of traditional techniques becomes difficult, recording preservation using digital technology is also important. Various methods are being undertaken to preserve Imado ware techniques and history for future generations, including video recording of manufacturing processes, digital archiving of works through 3D scanning, and creation of virtual workshops using VR technology.
These digital materials will not only serve as valuable resources for future technique restoration but also have potential to be utilized in education and tourism settings.
Conclusion
Imado ware is a traditional ceramic production center centered in Taito Ward, Tokyo, continuing from the Edo period. Using unglazed firing and raku techniques, it produced a wide range of items from everyday utensils to clay dolls and beckoning cats, supporting the popular culture of Edo and Tokyo.
While it suffered significant damage from the Great Kanto Earthquake and the scale of the production center was reduced, craftspeople who continue to inherit traditional techniques still exist today, and it is protected as an intangible cultural property of Taito Ward. Also known as one of the birthplaces of the beckoning cat, its value as a tourism resource is increasing.
While facing the challenge of successor shortages, new possibilities are also being explored, such as partnerships with tourism, fusion with contemporary design, and preservation of records using digital technology. Imado ware, as a precious cultural heritage of Tokyo and as an existence demonstrating the diversity of Japan’s ceramic production centers, will continue to receive attention in the future.
Imado ware, conveying the history and culture of Edo and Tokyo to the present day. Its simple and warm works continue to captivate people’s hearts across the ages.
