It has been producing porcelain for about four hundred years. It's in Kyushu in south-western Japan about one hour from Nagasaki. There are about two hundred kilns and artists working in the town. The town is surrounded by beautiful mountains and forests. Clear streams run through the back streets between traditional houses and ceramic factories. In the main street there are one hundred and fifty
national heritage buildings. Theses include Edo period buildings as well as Meiji period and Taisho period buildings. The history of Arita ceramics is exhibited in three major museums in the town and also in the showrooms of the old trading houses. These works were produced at the Kouraku kiln, which means Happy Lucky. The kiln is almost a hundred and fifty years old and produces both traditional and contemporary tableware. It is famous for its high standard of molded ceramics and technical innovation. The products of Happy Lucky kiln have both traditional elements and contemporary elements and are of the highest quality. Built from the timbers of a Meiji period primary school the kiln buildings have a very special atmosphere. The buildings are surrounded by woods and are very spacious. They are about a twenty minute walk from Arita Railway Station. There are many restaurants and stores nearby
Happy Lucky kiln hosts local and international artists and students who wish to work at the factory and experience Arita history first-hand. Happy Lucky Site is a new project directed by the fifth generation head of the Kouraku company, Alf Tokunaga. It is an artist residency program and a community based project designed to introduce Arita to the wider world. Please visit the page of Happy Lucky Site for news of upcoming events.
