Where is the in-house kiln or factory where the ceramics are directly fired?
When looking at ceramic brands, I usually check the location of the production workshop or kiln first. Since Maruhiro's brand introduction does not mention the location of production facilities or kilns, I wonder where they are made.
Maruhiro does not have its own kiln or factory, but plans and completes ceramics by utilizing the specialized division-of-labor system of Nagasaki Prefecture's Hasamiyaki.
There is no factory[1]. However, MARUHIRO is a ceramic manufacturer that presents tableware and interior items[2]. The stage supporting the brand is Hasami, a historic ceramic production area in Nagasaki Prefecture[3].
The secret is the division of labor. In the Hasami region, forming the shape with clay, master mold making to cast the standard mold, glazing to apply color and coating, and kiln firing in the flames are ordered separately from specialized workshops for each step[4]. Instead of one factory handling the entire process, specialized artisans for each process collaborate to elevate the level of completion. MARUHIRO plans and coordinates products at the center of this collaboration, bringing a piece of pottery into the world[5][6].
The specific number and locations of partner workshops entrusted with dividing the processes have not yet been confirmed.