350 Years of Tradition, Beautiful Tableware, and a Difficult Spring

Life in Japan – Issue 025

May 09, 2026

As I mentioned in a previous article, Japan was entering its major holiday period in May. Across the country, tourist spots, train stations, and event venues were filled with people—those traveling with family or friends, returning to their hometowns, or spending time close to home. At the same time, this year brought unstable weather in some regions, and many people had to change their plans or chose to stay indoors instead of going out.

May 2 marked Hachijūhachiya（八十八夜）, the 88th day counted from Risshun（立春, the beginning of spring). In Japan, this day is considered one of the seasonal turning points and has long been used as a guide for agricultural work, especially as a signal for the start of the new tea season. When freshly harvested tea begins to appear in shops, it becomes possible to feel, in everyday life, that spring is coming to an end and early summer is beginning.

The liveliness of the holiday, the uncertainty shaped by the weather, and the quiet sense of the season moving forward all overlapped during this week.

During this holiday, I visited Ōkawachiyama（大川内山）in Imari City, Saga Prefecture. This area was once home to the official kiln of the Saga domain and remains a place where the kilns of Nabeshima ware（鍋島焼）are gathered.

Surrounded by mountains, with rows of kiln shops along stone-paved paths, flowing streams, and greenery, it feels like a small, self-contained settlement shaped by the tradition of ceramics.

Nabeshima ware was not originally made for everyday use. It was a special type of porcelain produced under the authority of the Saga domain, primarily as tribute for the shogun’s family. It was not something freely sold in markets, but rather a refined and valuable object created for a limited group of people, embodying the domain’s technical skill and aesthetic standards.

Understanding this history gives a different meaning to walking through the kilns and choosing pieces by hand today. Techniques and designs that were once out of reach for ordinary people have been preserved and are now connected to everyday life. Nabeshima ware also carries a history of approximately 350 years, with its system established in the late 17th century, and that lineage continues in this place today.

During Golden Week, Ōkawachiyama hosts the “Nabeshima Domain Kiln Market.” This annual event brings together many kilns, allowing visitors to pick up and compare pieces directly. Special pricing is often offered during this period, which draws a large number of visitors.

This trip also coincided with my birthday. When I thought about how I wanted to spend it, I realized I wanted to visit the kilns I had long been interested in and choose pieces that I could use in my daily life. Rather than spending the day somewhere extravagant, I wanted to spend time selecting something that would remain with me in my everyday routine.

Walking through the area, I found more kilns than I had expected, each with its own distinct character. Some pieces stood out for their translucent white porcelain, others for their delicate hand-painted designs, and some seemed to naturally fit into everyday dining. Visiting more than twenty shops, I realized that the act of looking at these pieces was also a way of understanding the place itself.

Among them, I chose pieces from Kanemon（瀬貞陶窯寛右エ門）and Kōzan Kiln by Ichikawa Kōzan（光山窯・市川光山）. The weight in the hand, the thinness of the rim, and the way the dishes would look with food on them were easy to imagine. Choosing these pieces felt like quietly shaping my future daily life.

Tableware purchased from Kanemon（瀬貞陶窯寛右エ門）

Flat plates in various sizes purchased from Ichikawa Kōzan（市川光山）

After that, I visited the Mikawachi Sarayama area in Sasebo City, Nagasaki Prefecture, where the “Mikawachi Ware Hamazen Festival（はまぜん祭り）” was being held. Mikawachi ware has a history as the official kiln of the Hirado domain. This festival is held to express gratitude for the “hama,” the ceramic supports used during firing, and to foster connections between the kilns and the local community. During the event, even workshops that are not usually open to the public can be visited, and it is possible to see pieces before firing and the stages of decoration.

Some of the finely decorated pieces are quite expensive, and many are chosen more as objects for appreciation than for everyday use. I purchased a clay pot from Heibei Seitosho（平兵衛製陶所）. Among all types of tableware, a clay pot is especially close to daily life—it is used to cook, then brought directly to the table, creating moments shared with others.

The pieces I purchased—a curry plate, versatile small plates, soba cups, a clay pot, and a large serving plate—have already become part of my daily life. None of them are for special occasions; they are meant to be used every day. I have already served a meal on the curry plate, and simply changing the plate made the same dish feel slightly different. The other pieces will gradually appear on my table again and again. Choosing tableware is, in a way, choosing the moments of meals that will follow.

I also recorded parts of this experience in my personal vlog. The atmosphere of the streets and the feeling of the place may be conveyed more directly through video.

At the same time, in Japan, this period is also associated with a term called Gogatsu-byō（五月病 / “May sickness”）. It is not an official medical condition, but rather a term used to describe the fatigue and stress from adapting to new environments in April that begin to surface after Golden Week. People who have been trying to adjust to new schools, workplaces, or relationships may suddenly feel a loss of motivation or physical discomfort.

Spring is often described as a bright season of new beginnings, but some people struggle with the weight of these changes. Sadly, this is also a time of year when the number of people who take their own lives tends to increase in Japan. While it is a season of renewal, it is not always an easy one for everyone. This reality exists behind the word Gogatsu-byō.

Each person carries their own challenges, including burdens that may not be visible to others. That is why, at this time of year, I find myself wishing that each person’s daily life might be even slightly more peaceful.

I hope that this spring will be a calm and gentle time for you. Even within busy days or moments of uncertainty, I hope there are small moments—sharing a warm meal, encountering something you love, or taking a moment to care for yourself. I hope those small moments can support your days.

—Written by Sumire