400-Year-Old Arita Porcelains Charm Dutch National Museum

Porcelains from Arita, Saga, otherwise known in Europe as Imari, celebrate 400th anniversary in the Netherlands where a grand exhibition has just opened at the Rijksmuseum (National Museum) in Amsterdam starting April 21.

It was the Dutch East India Company that first brought to Europe and circulated Arita porcelain among the royalties and titled nobilities in the 17th century. So, the Rijksmuseum is best suited to highlight the porcelain's 400th anniversary.

Years ago, Japan had state-edited primary school textbooks and one of the readers had a story on Arita porcelain. It was the story of Kakiemon I, the founder of Arita kiln, - how he had erred thousand times to hit that "red" that made him memorable thereafter.

That legendary piece of work by Kakiemon I is exhibited along with works by Kakiemon VX to uplift the occasion. Also exhibited are a modern set of tableware done by European designers who had visited Arita and worked with local potters at the invitation of the Saga prefectural government.

At the exhibition's opening ceremony Kakiemon VX commented:

"The occasion reminds me of my mission to pass on to future generations what I have inherited from our ancestors. I'm sure this exhibition will bring overseas fans of Arita closer to its beauty."

Menno Fitski of the Rijksmuseum has this to say:

"This exhibition signifies the bondage of the Netherlands and Japan since the 17th century. I do hope this will serve a bridge of arts linking Japan and Europe."

Kakiemon partially means persimmon - the fruit that ripes "red". It was perhaps the red of a persimmon that Kakiemon VX first had in mind. The story in the reader taught us a lesson on how to persevere on one hand and also the brilliance of red against white in porcelain.