Away from the hustle and bustle of city life, nestled between mountains, lies the small town of Hasami. Residents enjoy the peaceful atmosphere of Nagasaki’s only landlocked town. Tourists are drawn to the cute cafes, relaxing onsen, and most of all, the prominent and historic pottery industry. The pottery produced in Hasami is called Hasamiyaki (波佐見焼), or Hasami ware. Items from here are known for their high quality, practical nature, and reasonable prices. This reputation dates back to the beginnings of Hasamiyaki, about 400 years ago, when production was focused on making items for the average citizen’s daily use. Many of these pieces were sold at affordable prices compared to porcelain pottery from neighbouring towns. In other words, it was pottery for the people. Even today, the Hasami junior high and elementary schools use Hasamiyaki bowls and plates for their school lunch! Hasamiyaki doesn’t have one uniform look, though it is always unified in its material: porcelain. The porcelain is white, whereas clay is often a terracotta brown or gray. Many also say that porcelain is more difficult to work with than other clays. The material is common to other pottery styles from nearby towns, such as Imari or Arita (both in the neighboring Saga Prefecture). There are some popular traits in Hasamiyaki, although they by no means define the style overall: stackable items (especially mugs) and paintings drawn in indigo. Historically, Hasamiyaki was produced in several climbing kilns (登り窯) around town. These kilns were made by digging a hole into the hillside, and the kiln “climbs” up the hill. Although they are no longer in use today, a few remain standing
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