Suzu ware, a pottery style from the Noto Peninsula in Ishikawa Prefecture, has been through two existential crises — once in the late 15th century, when it disappeared before being rediscovered and revived in the 1970s, and now.
The earthquake and tsunami that struck Oku-Noto, Ishikawa Prefecture on Jan. 1, 2024, destroyed all 22 of the kilns in Suzu. Ongoing aftershocks made reconstruction difficult and costly. Wares built up over the years were likewise laid waste, an economic and emotional blow. Like many in Suzu, the potters were forced to move to temporary housing. Many wondered, among the wider human and financial costs, whether to continue at all.
“It was a really difficult time,” says potter Mayumi Miyawaki, 52. “So many people were dead, including friends of mine. Everyone was struggling. This isn’t really the time to be worrying about Suzu ware, I thought.”
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