Special Exhibition for the 50th Anniversary of the Kakiemon Kiln Site Excavation
Kakiemon and Meissen: A Journey of Flowers-Dialogues in Porcelain between East and West-

The Kakiemon style, which is regarded as the pinnacle of Japanese porcelain, was produced during the Edo period from the 1670s to the 1690s and was highly prized in European markets overseas. Distinguished by a unique milky-white texture known as nigoshide, this elegantly refined porcelain decorated with overglaze enamels captivated European royalty and aristocracy, exerting a profound influence on the continent's emerging porcelain industry. In particular, the Royal Porcelain Manufactory established in Meissen in the Duchy of Saxony, Germany, which was the first successful producer of hard-paste porcelain in Europe (founded in 1710 and commonly known as the Meissen manufactory), produced highly sophisticated copies, especially around the 1730s.

The year 2026 marks the 50th anniversary of the archaeological excavations conducted at the Kakiemon Kiln Site. This exhibition introduces outstanding examples of Kakiemon-style porcelain alongside Meissen reproductions, exploring why Kakiemon-style porcelain was copied so precisely in Europe and the historical background behind it. The exhibition seeks to uncover the enduring beauty of the Kakiemon style and examine the reasons it continues to captivate people across cultures, both East and West.

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　

Venue	Exhibition Rooms 3 through 5, Kyushu Ceramic Museum, 3100-1 Toshaku Otsu, Arita-chō, Nishimatsuura-gun, Saga Prefecture
Dates	Saturday, October 3, through Sunday, December 6, 2026 Closed on Mondays (open on public holidays; closed the following day) Open on October 12 and November 23 (public holidays); closed on October 13 and November 24 instead.
Hours	9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Last entry at 4:30 p.m.
Admission	Adults: ¥800 (¥700) Admission is free for high school students and younger guests, as well as for holders of a disability certificate or designated intractable disease certificate and one accompanying caregiver. *Prices in parentheses apply to groups of 20 or more.
Exhibits	Approximately 150 items, plus additional reference materials
Exhibition Catalogue	An exhibition catalogue featuring the exhibits on display and column commentaries will be available for purchase. Size: A4, 210 pages
Exhibition Structure	Chapter 1: The Birth and Development of the Kakiemon Style Chapter 2: The Birth of the Royal Porcelain Manufactory (Meissen Manufactory) Chapter 3: The Kakiemon Style and Kakiemon-style Porcelains at the Meissen Manufactory Chapter 4: The Kakiemon Style at European Porcelain Manufactories Special exhibition: The modern Kakiemon kiln and the Kakiemon Porcelain Techniques Preservation Society The history of the sister-city partnership between Arita-cho and Meissen

Related Events

* Please note that all events are conducted in Japanese.

■　Special Lecture: "Kakiemon-Style Meissen Porcelain as a Symbol of Royal Power"
Date: Saturday, October 3, 2026, 2:00-3:30 p.m.
Venue: Auditorium, Kyushu Ceramic Museum
Lecturer: Sakuraba Miki (Art Historian; Lecturer, Musashino Art University)
Capacity: 200 people (No advance registration required)
Admission: Free

■　Talk Show: "A Journey of Kakiemon"
Date: Saturday, November 7, 2026, 2:00-3:30 p.m.
Venue: Auditorium, Kyushu Ceramic Museum
Speaker: Sakaida Kakiemon XV
Interviewer: Fujiwara Tomoko (Vice Director, Kyushu Ceramic Museum)
Capacity: 200 people (No advance registration required)
Admission: Free

■ Master the Art of Traditional Ceramic Painting: A Hands-On Workshop with Traditional Craftsmen　
This event has reached capacity and is now closed.
Learn authentic Japanese ceramic painting techniques from members of the Imari-Arita Masters of Traditional Crafts Association.
Designed for those who want to experience traditional ceramic painting under the guidance of skilled craftsmen, this hands-on workshop offers in-depth instruction from the basics, including the names of painting tools, how to paint traditional motifs, and even how to use a thick-tipped brush known as a dami brush to apply color.
Date & Time: Monday, November 23 (National Holiday), 9:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m.
Venue: Training Room 1, Kyushu Ceramic Museum
Capacity: 10 participants (first come, first served)
Participation Fee: ¥5,000
Advance Registration Required.

■ Ceramic Seminar
Date: Saturday, October 17, 2026, 1:30-3:00 p.m.
Lecturer: Suzuta Yukio (Director, Kyushu Ceramic Museum)
Theme: East and West Exchange in Ceramics (1): Kakiemon vs. Meissen

Date: Saturday, November 21, 2026, 1:30-3:00 p.m.
Lecturer: Fujiwara Tomoko (Vice Director, Kyushu Ceramic Museum)
Theme: East and West Exchange in Ceramics (2): Motifs and Forms of Meissen Porcelain
Admission: Free

■ Gallery Talk by Curators
Dates: Saturday, October 10; Saturday, October 24; Saturday, October 31; Saturday, November 14; Saturday, November 28; Saturday, December 5
Time: 2:00-2:30 p.m.
* Admission to the special exhibition is required to participate in this event.

Featured Works