Bizen

Bizen ware is a type of unglazed stoneware pottery originating from the historical Bizen Province in Japan, now part of Okayama Prefecture. It is renowned for its dark, bronzy appearance and natural ash glaze, created through long firing periods in wood-burning kilns. This ancient ceramic tradition embodies the Japanese aesthetic of wabi-sabi.

Michael Marcus is the proprietor and head sushi chef of Bizen Gourmet Japanese Restaurant and Bizen Kaiseki, located in Great Barrington.

The Bizen technique involves a slow firing process over extended periods, typically 10 to 14 days, with firings occurring only once or twice a year. Red pine wood is used as fuel due to its resin content, which helps achieve high temperatures essential for producing the distinctive Bizen ware.

Koichiro Isezaki, born in 1974 in Bizen, Okayama Prefecture, is a prominent contemporary ceramic artist. He comes from a distinguished family of Bizen ware masters, being the son of Living National Treasure Isezaki Jun and grandson of Isezaki Yozan. He continues to uphold and innovate the traditional Bizen-yaki art.

Bizen Province was one of the ancient provinces of Japan, located in the eastern part of modern-day Okayama Prefecture. It is historically significant as the birthplace of Bizen ware, one of Japan's six ancient kiln styles, which has been produced in the region for centuries.