About Kanesan
About Kanesan
In 1893, Katsushiro Kato founded the ceramics
wholesaler “Kanesan Shoten” in Seto.
Since the Meiji era, pottery produced in this region has been distributed across Japan, from Hokkaido in the north to Kyushu in the south. It is said that Katsushiro himself traveled throughout the country carrying samples of Seto ware to introduce them to customers nationwide. Today, Kanesan Shoten serves as a local wholesale distributor known as a sanchi tonya. A sanchi tonya specializes in sourcing products directly from kilns. In the Seto and Mino areas, many small to medium-sized kilns are concentrated, forming a unique pottery-producing region. Wholesalers like Kanesan Shoten collect goods from these kilns and handle sales and distribution on their behalf.
Working together with local kilns to develop original products is also an important role of a sanchi tonya (local wholesale distributor).
Each kiln possesses its own strengths, techniques, and sensibilities. Even when the same design is requested, the resulting pieces vary greatly from one kiln to another. This diversity is both the challenge and the true delight of handcrafted ceramics. We visit kilns on a daily basis, learning directly from the artisans and deepening our understanding of their craft. Through this close collaboration across the entire production region, we believe we can create products that cannot be found anywhere else.
About Seto
About Seto
Seto is a globally rare pottery-producing region that has continued ceramic production for over 1,000 years without interruption.
The Japanese word “Setomono,” meaning ceramics in general, originates from Seto ware, a craft that has long shaped Japan’s pottery culture. Seto is blessed with rich clay deposits, silica sand, and forests that supported kiln firing, creating ideal conditions for ceramic production. Seto’s history traces back to the Sanage kilns, and by the late 12th century it had become Japan’s only producer of glazed pottery. In the 19th century, Seto expanded into porcelain and began exporting worldwide, adopting Western techniques along the way. Today, Seto continues to evolve, producing everything from tableware and novelties to dental ceramics and automotive components.
Our Vision
Our Vision
We want people to rediscover the beauty of Japanese ceramics that flourishes in Seto.
Seto is a pottery-producing region with a history of more than 1,000 years.
Over that long history, a remarkable diversity of ceramics has been created here.
Founded in 1893 in Seto, a city known for its ceramics, we have long specialized in Seto ware and Mino ware.
Ceramics produced in Seto range from tableware to lucky charms such as maneki-neko, showcasing a wide variety of forms, decorations, and techniques.
In today’s world, ceramics may feel commonplace in daily life and no longer seem particularly novel.
However, we believe there is still much to share about their beauty, the joy they offer, and the many ways they can be appreciated.
We hope people will rediscover the beauty of Japanese ceramics that flourishes in Seto.
With that belief, we continue to share these pieces with you.
