The first series of the newly launched brand "Monohara," launched this winter with the concept of "Bringing Hasami ware to the world," has been announced: the "Kurawanka Collection," a collaboration with House Industries, a leading American typography company. The collection, totaling 18 items, is available for pre-sale from October 23rd at the Dainippon Market on the 5th floor of the Isetan Shinjuku store.
The brand "Monohara" was developed over the course of a year by Nagasaki-based Maruhiro Co., Ltd., with the aim of bringing the world's people to this kiln, which has long been known for producing tableware for everyday use by ordinary people. Aiming for user-friendly designs, the brand plans to develop products in collaboration with various artists across borders and genres.
The period from 1690 to 1860, when Hasami mass-produced everyday tableware for ordinary people in Japan, is known as the "Kurawanka Era." It is said that Hasami porcelain production was the highest in Japan during that period. Based on this era, the brand offers reasonably priced everyday tableware. "The plates and bowls, designed by Andy Cruz, art director at House Industries, feature the letter m, inspired by the initials of Monohara and the smoke rising from a climbing kiln. They can be nested and are microwave and oven safe," says Kyohei Baba, brand manager at Maruhiro Co., Ltd.
Plates are available in five sizes, ranging from 12cm to 25cm (630 yen to 3,465 yen), and bowls in six sizes, ranging from 9cm to 25cm (840 yen to 6,300 yen). Teapots (8,400 yen) and cups (1,050 yen) are also available in two colors, blue and red. "The blue gosu color and glaze texture are inspired by pottery from the Kurawanka period," says Baba.
The brand name "Monohara" refers to the place near the climbing kiln where unfired food was dumped. Monohara has been around for many years, and layers of pottery have been created, conveying the "present" that is built on a wealth of history and traditional techniques. From Monohara, which conveys the history of Hasami ware, new Hasami ware will be transmitted.
