Travel Date: November 16, 2015
Noritake, a known brand of tableware.
In 1876, Ichizaemon Morimura VI and his brother Toyo founded Morimura Gumi with the intent of establishing overseas trading by a Japanese company. By 1878, Toyo had established a business in New York selling Japanese antiques and other goods, including pottery. The company was renamed Morimura Brothers in 1881.
In 1904, key members of this trading company created the Nippon Toki Kaisha, Ltd. ("the Company that makes Japan's Finest China") in Japan.[4] A new factory was built in Noritake, near Nagoya (now Noritake-shinmachi, Nishi-ku, Nagoya, Aichi). In 1914 the company succeeded in creating their first Western style dinner set, called "Sedan", to compete with European porcelain companies. This forerunner of the modern Noritake Company was founded in the village of Noritake, a small suburb near Nagoya, Japan. Today, many collectors agree that the best examples of “Nippon-era” (1891–1921) hand painted porcelain carry a back stamp used by "Noritake" during the Nippon era. [Reference]
Access:
From Exit 2 of Kamejima Station on the Higashiyama Subway Line (5-minute walk)
Turn left (eastward) immediately after coming out of Exit 2. Go under the elevated Shinkansen tracks, then take a left turn at the second traffic signal of Wanouchi-cho. The visitor’s entrance is located about 50 meters ahead on the left (East Gate).
The red brick plant (an industrial heritage) is the only remainig building when factory of Nippon Toki Gomei Kaisha was founded in 1904.
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| time for morning walk with these kiddos |
Visit the Craft Center for only 500 yen (adults) to see how these raw materials became high quality vases and plates with intricate hand painted designs. [Read PDF]
Below are some of the visitors during my batch - school children do spend learning from these factories. Keep in mind that you are not allowed to take photos on most of the places inside the plant and museum.
At the end of the tour, you'll realize that taking care of your vases is not just because of the price that it's expensive. More than that, is the mind, the hands, the people behind who gave effort and patience in completing the long process (Modeling > Shaping > Firing > Glazing > Decoration > Gold Lining > Quality Inspection) of making one beautiful item.
Summary of 3 days itinerary in 2015 Autumn Nagoya-Toyota Trip:
Day
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Places to see
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Food and Restaurants
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Where to Sleep
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Day 1
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Korankei at Toyota
Sanshu Asuke Yashiki Tokugawa Garden Nunoike Catholic Church Mall Hopping at Otsu Dori |
Lotteria
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Day 2
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Lotteria
Subhakamana |
Hotel Trusty in Sakae
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Day 3
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Hotel Trusty in Sakae
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