The Mizunami City Ceramic Museum is located in Mizunami City, Gifu Prefecture, and offers a wealth of information about Mino ware, one of Japan’s traditional ceramic styles. It opened in April 1980 as the Tono Seibu Historical and Folklore Museum and Mizunami Ceramic Museum, established by the Tono Seibu Regional Administrative Union. In 2007, the facility was transferred to Mizunami City and renamed the Mizunami City Ceramic Museum, its current name.
The museum displays Mino ware from ancient times to the present day, along with tools and machinery used in ceramic production from the Meiji period (1868–1912) onward. Special and temporary exhibitions are held several times a year, offering visitors new discoveries with each visit.
The museum also organizes hands-on pottery-making and ceramic painting classes, allowing visitors to experience the craft themselves. In addition to its focus on ceramics, the museum conducts research into local history and folklore and presents the findings through its exhibitions.
Among the museum’s most significant collections are 2,983 tools and 850 ceramic products used in pottery production from the Meiji period through the 1960s. In 2016, these materials were registered as National Tangible Folk Cultural Properties under the name “Tools and Products Used in Mino Ceramic Production.”
This designation recognizes the historical and cultural value of the collection, making the museum an important institution for preserving and sharing valuable records of traditional Japanese ceramic production with visitors from Japan and abroad.
The Mizunami City Ceramic Museum is located within Mizunami Citizens’ Park, surrounded by a natural setting where visitors can explore the history of ceramics in a peaceful environment.
The facility includes a permanent exhibition gallery and the Kozo Kato Exhibition Room, each offering a different perspective on Mino ware and its artistic heritage.
The permanent exhibition introduces the history of Mino ware and the techniques used to produce it. The development of this ceramic tradition is explained chronologically, helping visitors understand how its styles and production methods evolved over the centuries.
The Kozo Kato Exhibition Room presents works and themes related to Mino ware, with a particular focus on the creations and artistic process of Kozo Kato, a distinguished ceramic artist. Visitors can gain a deeper appreciation of his work and the techniques involved in creating his ceramics.
The Mizunami City Ceramic Museum offers an opportunity not only to deepen your knowledge of Mino ware but also to experience the appeal of traditional ceramics firsthand. It is an ideal destination for anyone interested in Japanese history and culture or eager to try pottery-making. When visiting Mizunami City in Gifu Prefecture, consider stopping by to discover the craftsmanship and heritage of Mino ware.