Kutani Seiyo and Hanada

When looking back on the 40-year history of Hanada,
it is impossible to speak of it without mentioning Kutani Seiyo.
Kutani Seiyo started three years before the founding of Hanada, led by Yoichi Hata with a group of three to four promising ceramic artists in their thirties.

*This large kiln represents the strength of Kutani Seiyo, where numerous pieces of tableware are fired every day.

With High Aspirations

From the very beginning, they held high aspirations: providing tableware for daily life, creating high-quality items that match the times while remaining grounded in classical styles, and keeping prices affordable to achieve this.
These three elements are also reflected in the fundamental philosophy of Hanada.

The Reason for Long-lasting Popularity

Because they prioritize complementing the food, the patterns remain remarkably simple.
Customers who use tableware from Kutani Seiyo offer the highest praise for everyday items, describing them as easy to use, timeless, and affordable enough for casual daily use.

The Workshop

When visiting the workshop, you will always find around ten young ceramic artists in their twenties and thirties quietly and dedicatedly working on their pottery.
The director, Yoichi Hata, takes care to nurture the individuality of each artist within the framework of Kutani Seiyo.
Additionally, they are highly sensitive to changing trends. Looking back over the past forty years of our relationship, there were several times when their direction or atmosphere seemed to shift. In those moments, we were briefly puzzled by the changes, but over time, those shifts naturally blended into our daily lives, and the tableware proved its compelling presence.

Continuing as Companions

Seeing this reality, one cannot help but admire the skillful leadership of Yoichi Hata. Over the years, many young ceramic artists have knocked on the door of Kutani Seiyo and eventually moved on to establish their own paths.
Among those who have moved on are Katsutoshi Mizuno (known for his white porcelain), Kyoko Hayashi, Binichi Kitano, Mitsuo Fujitsuka, Mansaku Nakao, Osamu Okamoto, Naoto Okada, and Hanako Kusaka, along with many other uniquely talented artists.
Yoichi Hata has made an immense contribution by building the foundation for these artists. Although Kutani Seiyo and Hanada stand in different positions—one as the maker and the other as the seller—I believe we are companions who share the same aspirations and have walked the same path together.

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