令和5年窯焚きの様子

Sacred sake is prepared and prayers are offered to the god of the kiln before the fire is lit.

For three to four days after firing, moisture is removed from the kiln by a process called dew firing, in which firewood is added only to the lower part of the kiln opening.

Once the dew is done, add firewood to the upper level and gradually increase the amount.

A look at a large fire. Firewood is added until the fire box is full.

Once it burns out, we have to throw it in again, and this process continues for about five hours.

By the time the large fire is finished, the temperature in the first chamber will exceed 1,000 degrees.

Although the inside seen through the peephole in the first room is red, it has not yet acquired a glossy finish.

I started adding firewood to the first room and the temperature is 11, but it hasn't yet reached 100 degrees.

Before the firewood burns out, the flames blow out along the walls of the kiln, raising the temperature.

1st chamber baking time 5 hours

Baking finished without reaching the target temperature.

As more firewood is added, flames will erupt from the gaps in the wall plaster.

The thermometer reads 1,100 degrees.

The second chamber also had trouble raising the temperature, and the opening had to be repeatedly opened and closed.

It took four hours, and the temperature finally rose to 1,180 degrees.

In the third room, the temperature rose to 1,225 degrees, but then the fire died down a bit and the temperature dropped.

Once the glaze reaches a melting temperature, the inside of the piece can only be seen with the naked eye.

In the third room, flames shoot out when you add firewood, so work is very difficult.

We finished adding the last of the firewood just before 9am.

After waiting for the firewood to burn out, we close all holes except for the main opening, the fire openings in each room, and the chimney, and then cool the kiln.