Here are a few Japanese terms used to describe wood fired potteries or Bizen, Shigaraki, Iga, Echizen, Tamba and Tokoname among others.
Tamadare- (ball runs) running lines from the ash flow, some ending in a ball or droplet of vitrified ash
Yohen- kiln change(d), surfaces changed by the atmosphere or the kiln, fire changed
Bidoro- from the old term vitoro, glassy, running deposits and droplets of vitrified ash sometimes ending in green “tear drops” called tombo-me, dragonfly eyes
Yu-Damari- pools of natural ash glaze, especially seen in the mikomi
Goma(bai)- small, spotted areas deposited during the firing, speckled ash
Sangiri- areas of localized reduction created where the pot sat in a charcoal bed
Hi-iro- fire color/ flame color
Koge – “burnt”, areas where ash and charcoal build up and appear burnt in brown, black or grey tones mostly
Hishoku- bright red hi-iro, mostly seen on Bizen-yaki
Bota-mochi- bean rice cakes, areas that are mostly bare clay from clay wads to act as resists
Shizenyu- natural ash glaze deposited during the firing, to occur naturally
Ishihaze- stone bursts, a common trait in Shigaraki-yaki where the clay cracks around feldspatic stones within the clay
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