Illustrated is a photo from
an article in the December 15th edition of the Okinawan Times of Iga veteran
potter Kojima Kenji and a wonderful Iga bottle with a rich emerald coating of
natural (shizen) ash glaze running from mouth to shoulder with a variety of
other effects finishing out the ensemble. Kojima-san's most recent exhibition
was in the Okinawan capital of Naha where seventy pieces were on display
through December 20th, 2015. This particular bottle is typical of the surfaces
Kojima gets in his kiln using mostly pine for his firings with vivid glassy
surfaces balanced with rich fire colors and charcoal effects. I am immediately
reminded of an old onion bottle typically seen on pre-modern sailing ships and
used to store wine or brandy and with the very glassy neck it puts me in mind all
the more due to its bidoro appearance. It must have been quite an exhibition!
.JPG)