Collection: Tanaka

Tanaka specializes in traditional Japanese crafts, with a focus on Hagi ware. Based in the Netherlands since the spring of 2024, Tanaka aims to share the spirit of Japanese pottery with a wider audience. Through close relationships with kilns and makers in Hagi, they supply us with finely made pieces that bring warmth and depth to daily life.

Hagi-yaki, or Hagi ware, has been made for over 400 years in the castle town of Hagi, Yamaguchi Prefecture. Long appreciated for its soft textures and subtle tones, it is often described in the old saying: “Raku first, Hagi second, Karatsu third”, a ranking of the most esteemed wares for the tea ceremony.

Hagi’s distinctive character comes from its local clay, rich in iron and fine-grained silica, and its natural, slightly porous glazes that allow the surface to change with use. Over time, tea and water seep gently into the clay, deepening the colour and revealing a warm translucence known as nanabake, “seven transformations.”

While rooted in this quiet, imperfect beauty, contemporary Hagi potters now work with a wide range of clays, slips, and glazes. Their work continues to evolve, from traditional tea bowls and vases to everyday tableware, carrying forward the calm spirit of Hagi into the present.