The Oku Ancient Kiln Sites and Their Historical Significance
Numerous Sue ware kiln remains are scattered throughout Setouchi City. Collectively, they are known as the Oku Ancient Kiln Sites. The Sabukaze complex lies at the southernmost end of this group and was once part of the largest Sue ware production area in the Chugoku and Shikoku regions of western Japan.
It is believed that the pottery-making tradition established here later developed into the production of Bizen ware. The site is therefore an important link between ancient ceramic production and the region’s enduring pottery culture.
Discovery and Archaeological Research
The Sabukaze Ancient Kiln Sites were brought to wider attention through the work of Mokusui Tokizane, a local historian and amateur researcher of regional history. In 1927, he collected Sue ware fragments around Sabukaze and continued investigating other ancient kiln sites throughout the Oku area. He published his findings in the archaeological journal Kibi Kōko and produced a five-volume illustrated catalog titled Oku no Kamaato, helping establish the site’s academic importance.
Magnetic surveys and trench investigations were conducted in 1978. On February 5, 1986, the site was designated a National Historic Site of Japan. Later, from 2005 to 2008, the Setouchi City Board of Education carried out archaeological investigations to confirm the remains and support their preservation and public presentation.
Tokizane, who was born in Nagahama in 1896, died in 1993 at the age of 96. A Bizen ware statue honoring his contributions stands in the courtyard of Sabukaze Pottery Hall. The preservation of the site owes much to his dedication to collecting, documenting, and studying its archaeological remains.
The Kilns and Their Pottery
Investigations have identified five kiln remains, associated with kilns numbered from No. 1 to No. 3. These kilns produced a range of Sue ware vessels, including lidded containers, cups, stemmed dishes, flat-sided bottles, plates, jars, and bowls.
Particularly notable are specialized ceramic objects such as tōkan, or ceramic coffins; shibi, decorative ridge-end ornaments used on temple roofs; and tōken, ceramic inkstones used for writing. Similar objects have been found at archaeological sites in the ancient capitals of Nara Prefecture and elsewhere in the Kinki region, demonstrating that products from Sabukaze reached areas far beyond Okayama.
Some of the pottery was apparently delivered to the ancient capital of Nara as tax payments. This has led researchers to believe that the kilns may also have served an official role in supplying the central government. The production of specialized ceramics and architectural ornaments suggests close connections between this regional pottery center and the political and religious institutions of ancient Japan.
Understanding Ancient Sue Ware
Sue ware was generally blue-gray in color and was produced in a wide variety of forms. Cups and bowls were used for serving food and offerings, while jars provided storage for liquids such as water and sake. Other products included stemmed dishes, plates, large platters, long-necked jars, and stone-mill-like vessels.
The pottery-making technique reached Japan from the Korean Peninsula during the middle of the Kofun period, brought by skilled craftspeople who introduced the use of potter’s wheels and high-temperature kilns. These techniques made it possible to produce pottery more efficiently and with greater consistency than earlier methods.
A defining feature of Sue ware is its blue-gray surface, which results from reduction firing. During this process, oxygen inside the kiln becomes limited, changing the conditions under which the clay and minerals are fired. The resulting pottery is distinct from many earlier Japanese ceramics in both its appearance and manufacturing technique.
Sabukaze Pottery Hall
Located south of the ancient kiln sites, Sabukaze Pottery Hall introduces visitors to the area’s long ceramic-making history. Its displays include Sue ware collected by Mokusui Tokizane and artifacts recovered during archaeological investigations.
The hall also exhibits and sells works by local ceramic artists, providing an opportunity to appreciate how the region’s pottery traditions continue today. Pottery workshops are offered for visitors who want to try making ceramics themselves. Admission to the facility is free, and the hands-on activities provide an enjoyable way to experience the craft behind the area’s cultural heritage.
Sabukaze Pottery Village
The surrounding area is home to Sabukaze Pottery Village, where approximately 15 ceramic artists work in their studios. Many specialize in Bizen ware, while several also produce glazed ceramics.
The village represents a living continuation of the area’s ceramic traditions. Here, the history preserved at the ancient kilns connects with contemporary craftsmanship, making Sabukaze more than an archaeological site: it is also a place where local artistic culture continues to develop.
From Sabukaze to the Birthplace of Bizen Ware
After Sue ware production at Sabukaze came to an end, ceramic production gradually shifted northward. During the Nara period (710–794), kilns operated in areas such as Shoda and Sayama. In the early Heian period, production continued around Fukutani and Sayama, before moving to Isogami in the later Heian period.
Eventually, the center of production moved to Imbe, where the tradition that became Bizen ware took shape. This sequence of relocations illustrates how pottery production evolved across the region over many centuries. The Sabukaze Ancient Kiln Sites occupy an important place in this history as one of the key foundations of Bizen’s renowned ceramic tradition.
Experience the Ceramic Heritage of Okayama
A visit to the Sabukaze Ancient Kiln Sites offers a glimpse into the technological achievements and cultural connections of ancient Japan. The remains tell the story of skilled potters who produced everyday vessels as well as specialized objects for religious and official use, supplying communities and institutions far beyond their home region.
Pairing a visit to the historic site with a stop at Sabukaze Pottery Hall or the surrounding pottery village provides a fuller understanding of the area’s legacy. From the blue-gray Sue ware of ancient times to the distinctive unglazed Bizen ware made today, Sabukaze reveals a remarkable tradition of craftsmanship that has continued to shape the cultural identity of Okayama.