At Kawai Kanjiro’s House in Kyoto, this remarkable climbing kiln (noborigama) represents the heart of traditional Japanese pottery making. The kiln, built into the hillside, allowed the master potter to achieve the high temperatures necessary for his distinctive ceramic work.

Kanjiro Kawai was a key figure in the Japanese folk craft movement, and this kiln produced some of the most celebrated ceramics of the 20th century. The weathered brick and earth construction shows the marks of countless firings, each one a testament to the dedication required in the pursuit of ceramic excellence.