It is a street with a unique atmosphere. Many stores selling yachimun, a traditional Okinawan handicraft, line the street, and it is said to be the hometown of yachimun.
Ikuto-en” is a potter of Tsuboya-yaki pottery that has been on this street for 300 years. The current owner is the fifth generation, and has been making Tsuboya-yaki for generations. Yachimun of Ikutouen is characterized by a design that fits in with modern dining tables while giving a sense of Okinawan tradition.
Beautiful arabesque line carving on Ikuto-en’s Yachimun
When you visit Ikutouen, you should see the “arabesque line carving”.
It is said to be the most common pattern on Okinawan Yachimun. This arabesque pattern is delicately and powerfully carved on Ikuto-en’s Yachimun. The arabesque carving on the simple colored pottery is really beautiful and elegant, and it fits in well with any dining table.
The Yachimun of the Ikutouen arabesque line carving series are available in a wide variety of types, including makai (tea bowls), mugs, 5″ plates, and flower vases, and are recommended as souvenirs and gifts because they are easy to incorporate into daily life.
Ikuto-en’s four brands
Ikuto-en has four wonderful brands.
(1) Ikuto-en Honten The main store features works by the current owner, Tadashi Takaezu, as well as “Arabesque Line Carving” and “Ikuto-en Lion,” which are representative of Ikuto-en.
Check out the “SEN” series with straight lines and the “Kannai Basanai” series with designs of kannai (lightning) and bananas (basanai).
The “guma guma” series features simple and gentle floral designs. The lightweight vessel is designed to be comfortable in a delicate woman’s hand.
This is a vessel that expresses the world of fantasy. Is this Yachimun? The unique design is so attractive that you may think, “Is this Yachimun?
At Ikuto-en, handcrafting Yachimun is also recommended!
At Ikuto-en, there is a facility called “Tsuboya-yaki Yachimun Dojo” where visitors can not only buy Yachimun but also experience making Yachimun themselves. The “Yachimun Experience” is recommended for visitors on a sightseeing tour.
Visitors can try their hand at making a standing Shisa or a wall-hanging Shisa, making a vessel while using a potter’s wheel, making a plate while feeling the clay in their palms, and painting a favorite design on a prepared unglazed piece of pottery using a traditional glaze.
You can experience these activities with your family, friends, or as a couple, and by experiencing the process of making Yachimun, you can get a better sense of the fascination of Yachimun.
