Seikou Kiln began in the early Taishō era in Nomi, Ishikawa Prefecture, as a workshop dedicated to painting Kutani ware (九谷焼). Known for its vivid colours and richly decorated surfaces, Kutani ware has a long tradition of turning porcelain into something almost pictorial. Seikou's ambition was to bring that colour into everyday homes. During the Shōwa era, the kiln introduced screen printing and transfer techniques, making traditional Kutani decoration more accessible without losing its distinctive character.

What makes Seikou's approach different is the care behind those techniques. The kiln develops and mixes its own wa-enogu (和絵具), traditional Japanese overglaze enamels that give the porcelain its glass-like transparency, rich colour and subtly raised surface. Original outlines are drawn by hand, then prepared as transfer sheets and printed in-house. Each transfer is applied to the vessel by skilled hands before firing. The result is decoration with depth and texture — colour you can feel as well as see.

The patterns also carry meanings beyond decoration. Chidori depicts plovers crossing waves together, a symbol of overcoming difficulties. Umekiku brings plum blossom and chrysanthemum into one design, associated with resilience and longevity. Ishidatami's repeating checks express continuity and prosperity. These traditional motifs give each piece a character of its own, without asking it to be kept for special occasions.

At iromizu, we've chosen Seikou's colourful cups, mugs, rice bowls and plates, alongside coordinated tableware sets that bring these patterns together. A cup for morning coffee, a plate that frames an ordinary lunch, or a bowl used day after day. They are pieces that bring a little more colour and meaning to the table, in the way Seikou intended.

Explore the Seikou Kiln collection below and find a pattern to make your own.