Pop-up Store Power of Pottery: Yachimun at Forget-me-nots

With the recent COVID-19 pandemic, many people may have found themselves wanting to make their time at home more fulfilling and comfortable. This time, I would like to introduce the charm of "Yachimun," an Okinawan pottery that I highly recommend to such people.

While ceramics are produced in various regions of Japan, Yachimun is characterized by its thick, plump, and substantial feel, along with vibrant colors and patterns typical of a tropical climate. One can sense the magnificent nature and tranquil lifestyle unique to Okinawa through it.

Its history is also long, dating back approximately 400 years to a time when Okinawa Prefecture was known as the Ryukyu Kingdom. When pottery techniques were introduced by Koreans, "Tsuboya-yaki" was born, forming the foundation of Yachimun. Tsuboya-yaki, initially produced as containers for import and export, gradually became popular as household daily necessities, marking the beginning of Yachimun.
Later, in the Meiji era, when the Ryukyu Kingdom became Okinawa Prefecture, inexpensive and durable pottery produced in other prefectures became widespread, and Tsuboya-yaki began to decline. However, due to the "Mingei Movement" that occurred around 1926, its beauty as a daily necessity was recognized, and Yachimun spread throughout the country.
Even after that, as Tsuboya became an urban area, the damage from black smoke from kilns expanded, and the use of wood-fired kilns, a traditional technique of Tsuboya-yaki, was prohibited. Consequently, many potters left Tsuboya to preserve their culture and techniques, and gathered again in Yomitan Village, which is rich in ceramic clay and land, and have continued their pottery work to this day.
Today, Tsuboya is cherished as "Tsuboya Yachimun Street," lined with shops selling Yachimun, and Yomitan Village, with dozens of kilns, has become a popular tourist spot known as "Yomitan Yachimun no Sato."
Thus, Yachimun, which has overcome numerous crises and walked a history of over 400 years, is also greatly appealing for its ability to convey the culture and techniques preserved by our predecessors and the will of the current artisans who inherit them.

Furthermore, Yachimun has a profound charm that cannot be fully expressed, such as each traditional painting pattern having its own name and meaning longevity and prosperity for descendants. Since there are not many places in Tokyo where you can pick them up and see them, please take this opportunity to experience their charm at the Forget-me-nots Daikanyama main store.
Text by shizuka___0911 (Forget-me-nots buyer)