USUKIYAKI Japanese Craft

USUKIYAKI – Reviving a Lost Porcelain Tradition

In the tranquil city of Usuki, Oita Prefecture, a porcelain tradition once flourished for only a brief moment during the Edo period (1603–1868) — and then disappeared for centuries. USUKIYAKI is the poetic revival of this “phantom porcelain,” brought back to life by craftsman Hiroyuki Usami, who reinterprets its legacy through a contemporary lens.

Each piece, born from Usuki’s lush natural surroundings and historic townscape, embodies quiet strength and refined simplicity. Its soft matte texture and delicate petal-like rims evoke the memory of flowers — framing dishes like an artwork within a gentle porcelain frame.

Beyond function, USUKIYAKI invites a sense of story and emotion. It connects the hand of the maker and the heart of the user, blending tradition and modernity in a design language that feels both timeless and visionary.

USUKIYAKI is not merely tableware — it is a cultural dialogue in porcelain, where the past and present coexist, offering a renewed sense of optimism through the art of the handmade.