Kyoto-style climbing kiln

The few Kyoto-style climbing kilns existing in Kyoto are in Tanzan. These climbing kilns used to be seen within the city, but their numbers have drastically reduced since the regulations on emission that came into effect in 1971. Many artisans turned to gas kilns or electric kilns to create their works instead; the few artisans who sought to preserve Kyoto-style climbing kilns relocated from Gojo-zaka to Tanzan. Characteristic of Kyoto-style climbing kilns is their ability to fire a variety of items – porcelain, earthenware pottery and unglazed pottery – at the same time. At kilns of the time, work involved in lighting and stoking the kiln fire was comprised of different specialist jobs. The people undertaking these jobs were called “kamataki-san” (kiln fire stokers) or “makiwara-san” (wood splitters). The kamataki-san ensured that the fire in the kiln was spread thoroughly to all sections of the kiln, while it was the job of the makiwara-san with their wood-splitting skills to provide the kindling necessary to fuel the fire. In this way, a variety of artisans and people knowledgeable about lighting and stoking kilns assembled together, and the pieces that were created had an unmistakable flavor to them. Today in Tanzan, the fires are lit once a year, so that the skills involved in the practice are passed on.