The Making of Rakuyaki | La fabrication du Rakuyaki

Rakuyaki is one of Japan’s traditional pottery styles, used in tea ceremonies since the end of the 16th century.

SHORAKU is a Rakuyaki kiln established in 1905. KYOSHITSU SASAKI Yamato is the fourth-generation owner of the kiln, continuing the traditional techniques of Rakuyaki craftsmanship.

Chapters:
0:00 OP
0:06 Tedukune
Using 1 kg of soil, he roughly shapes the clay into a bowl by hand.
0:48 Kurinuki
He carefully refines the shape of the bowl using dedicated tools.
6:26 Glaze
The bowl is coated several times with a glaze made from stones collected from the Kamo River in Kyoto and other materials.
7:26 Yaki
The bowl is fired in a 1,100°C kiln for about 3 minutes. After firing, it is left for 30 seconds to 1 minute before being cooled in a bucket of water.

The mysterious sound heard during the process is called “KANNYU.” It is the cracking sound of the glaze caused by the difference in shrinkage between the clay and the glaze.