[Kanazawa] Beauty and stories embodied in Kutani ware

2025.09.20

Kutani ware is a traditional craft that Ishikawa Prefecture is proud of, and the tradition began nearly 400 years ago. This time, we will introduce the history of Kutani ware and the wishes that are embedded in its patterns.

Hotel Resol Trinity Kanazawa

All tourist spots in Kanazawa City are within walking distance.

Omicho Market is within a 1-minute walk, making it a convenient base for sightseeing in Kanazawa.

We welcome you with colorful flowers and Kaga Temari art.

• Table of Contents
• The beginning of Kutani ware and the baton that has been passed down to the present day
• Wishes contained in bold patterns
• Lobby service using Kutani ware

The beginning of Kutani ware and the baton that has been passed down to the present day

Kutani ware is a traditional craft that Ishikawa Prefecture is proud of. Its origins date back to around 1655, during the early Edo period, when Maeda Toshiharu, the first lord of the Daishoji Domain (a branch of the Kaga Domain), commissioned Goto Saijiro, who had studied ceramics manufacturing in Arita, to open a kiln. The "Kokutani" style that emerged during this period is characterized by its bold, five-color painting (green, yellow, purple, deep blue, and Aka), and has captivated people as an art form that transcends the boundaries of tableware.

However, Ko-Kutani disappeared after about 50 years. Then, 100 years later, the Kaga domain invited Kyoto literati painter Aoki Mokubei to open the Kasuga Kiln in Kanazawa . Kutani ware was revived once again, and unique kilns such as Yoshida Kiln and Shozo Kiln were born one after another, each of which developed its own unique style.

During the Meiji period, Shozo Kutani's colored gold brocade was praised on the world stage, and the name spread as "Japan Kutani." Nowadays, many artists, including Living National Treasure Yoshida Mito, continue to create new Kutani ware while preserving tradition.

Wishes contained in bold patterns

There are many typical designs in Kutani ware.

Among them, the style known as "Aote" is characterized by a bold design in which the entire vessel is painted in vibrant green, giving it a presence reminiscent of a painting.

Furthermore, the "Ume-Kiku-mon" design, which depicts a pattern of plum and chrysanthemum, is imbued with delicate beauty and powerful meanings such as "patience," "vitality," and "longevity," and the silence that resides in the vessel resonates in the heart, like a prayer.

In fact, the family crest of the Maeda clan, who were the lords of the Kaga domain, was the "umebachimon," which also features a plum blossom motif and symbolizes strength and prosperity.

You will see them in various places around Kanazawa, so be sure to look for them.

Lobby service using Kutani ware

Our hotel offers Kutani ware as a welcome drink. Upon arrival, guests will enjoy fragrant coffee in a Kutani ware cup. In addition, we have prepared edible gold leaf as a luxurious touch unique to Kanazawa. Guests can sprinkle the sparkling gold leaf on the drink with their own hands, which will not only enhance the beauty of the dish but also leave a lingering, elegant aftertaste on their palate.

A cup of coffee poured into a Kutani ware cup is more than just a drink: it is a small gift that subtly conveys Kanazawa's history and aesthetic sense, as well as feelings of gratitude and welcome to customers.

Please enjoy the beginning of your journey as you listen to the story told in the cup and the sparkle of the gold leaf. We hope that this cup will become a warm memory that will stay in your heart.