Aochibu/shirochibu style

Aochibu is a painting technique that began in the Taisho period (1912-1926) and has a refined and dignified appearance. It is a very precise technique that requires uniformity in the size and spacing of the dots. In addition to aochibu, there are also shirochibu and akachibu.

History of Aochibu

It is said that Kutaniyaki began in the Taisho period (1912-1926) and was often used as part of decoration at that time. The second generation, Nakada Kingyoku, used such aochibu as a mainstay of his work. He continued to use aochibu and another technique, morikin. Until then there had been craftsmen who had worked with "Morikin Aochibu", but they generally struck the grains in a straight line, called "Bo-uchi" (striking with a stick). However, Mr. Kngyoku II developed the whirlpool technique, in which the dense grains look like whirlpools.

Manufacturing Process

The pattern is drawn with morikin and surrounded by swirls of aochibu.
To create this beautiful swirl pattern, he uses a tool with a hole in the tip called "ichichin". The artist pours color mixture into the tool and then strikes the grains. When the tip of the "ichichin" is pointed down, the paint continues to come out. When a tiny grain of paint is released, he raises the angle of the itchin to stop the paint from coming out. He repeats this rhythmically. The aggregate of tiny grains, struck moment by moment, is almost the same size and at the same interval, and eventually a swirling pattern emerges. The swirl is also drawn freehand, without underdrawing.