Special 45th Anniversary Exhibition, The Big Bang of Early Imari: The Full Story of the Birth of Japanese Porcelain is held from Saturday, October 4, 2025 to Sunday, December 7, 2025.

Following the introduction of porcelain, which had been unknown in Japan, from the Korean Peninsula about 400 years ago, the technology quickly developed into a full-fledged industry. Porcelain made in the early 17th century, shortly after its emergence in Japan, is referred to as Early Imari.

Recent research has revealed that while early attempts to develop porcelain were made in Taku and Imari, it was in Arita that production rapidly advanced and flourished. The exhibition focuses on the dawn of porcelain production. Based on a collection of outstanding Early Imari items that fascinate us even today and historical materials that reveal the technological innovations of the time, the exhibition sheds light on the true origins and development of Japanese porcelain.

		Description
Organiser & Venue		Exhibition Rooms 3 through 5, Kyushu Ceramic Museum
		3100-1 Toshaku Otsu, Arita-cho, Nishimatsuura-gun, Saga Prefecture
Dates		Sataurday, October 4, through Sunday, December 7, 2025 (56 days)
		** Closed Mondays (open on public holidays, closed the following day)
Opening Hours		9:00 am to 5:00 pm (Last admission at 4:30 pm)
Admission Fee		General Admission 800 yen, Groups of 20 or more: 700 yen per person
		High school students and younger: Free
		Individuals with a disability certificate or a certificate for specified intractable diseases, along with one accompanying caregiver.: Free
Number of Objects		200 items
Catalogue		An exhibition catalogue featuring all exhibited items is published.
		Exhibition Structure
Prologue		The Eve of Japanese Porcelain
Chapter 1		The Big Bang of Early Imari: The Birth of Japanese Porcelain
	Section 1	Early Porcelain Production as Seen in Excavated Kiln Artifacts
	Section 2	The Story that Emerges from Archives
Chapter 2		Growth of Porcelain Production
	Section 1	Full-Scale Production in Arita
	Section 2	The Spread of Porcelain Production
	Section 3	The Development of Patterns: The Influence of Chinese Porcelain
Chapter 3		Establishment of a Production System
Chapter 4		Sparkling Stars: Diverse Creativity
	Section 1	Decorative Techniques
	Section 2	Utensils for Tea, Flowers, and Incense
	Section 3	The Emergence of Large Porcelain Dishes
Epilogue		The Expanding Universe: Innovation in Japanese Porcelain
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