Collecting Japanese pottery a fad in Vietnam

A sakura teapot, Lucky cats maneki neko, an ancient citadel cup, an iris vase... These symbols of Japanese culture are skillfully crafted in pottery. And these are only a few of the 2,000 pieces of Japanese pottery in the collection of Nguyễn Thu Hà. Since falling in love with Japanese culture, Hà has learned much about the art. For her, Japanese pottery with its 4,000-year-old history is a reflection of the culture, people and evolution of Japan.

Nguyen Thu Ha, Japanese pottery collector said: I love molded and hand-painted items. They are considered the most typical pieces of Japanese pottery. With molded and hand-painted items, there is hardly ever another like it. Even with the same model, a craftsman’s spirit is different each time. I’m truly impressed with Japanese pottery, especially the long history I read about.  

Japanese pottery is usually thin and has small patterns. To create these products, artisans must be vigilant in every step, from choosing the clay, molding and glazing it, to firing it and drawing the patterns. According to Hà, each pattern of traditional Japanese pottery has its own meaningful story.

"Eggplants do not have much meaning in Vietnamese or other Asian cultures. However, for the Japanese it means proliferation. They believe that if they dream of eggplants at the start of the year, they will have children. In general, each pattern of traditional Japanese pottery has an interesting story.", Ha added.

If Hà’s love for Japan brought her to pottery, Huy’s passion for pottery taught him more about the country. Huy was among the first to bring Japanese pottery to Hanoi a few years ago. As a lecturer at Hanoi University of Industrial Fine Arts, Huy soon realized the attraction of simple patterns.

Le Huy, Owner, Tiem Gom shop said: Japan has a philosophy of seeing the beauty in simple things. Their products are often simple, but they convey the Japanese spirit. This is what’s most interesting about Japanese items. With just one or two pen strokes, artisans ensure both aesthetic standards and the spirit of the object.

Huy believes that collecting also means inspiring others who have the same passion for Japanese culture. Whether those who come to Huy’s shop are familiar with Japanese pottery or not, they all are impressed by these little items.

These cute little items impress Vietnamese people with their beauty and the fascinating stories behind them. Collecting Japanese pottery has taught young people about Japanese culture. Collectors like Hà and Huy have helped expand the cultural bridge between Vietnam and Japan.