Shopping Guide
The Ultra Heroes and monsters have been reborn as Kutani works of art!
Ishikawa Traditional Craft Fair 2013, held in Tokyo, is an event that showcases the excellent, historical craftsmanship of the Ishikawa prefecture. We heard that Ultra Seven, Monster Eleking, and Alien Metron were going to be at the event, so we went to check it out.
The event hall was filled with many kinds of traditional handcrafted products from Ishikawa including wooden bowls crafted in ancient styles, tiny charms made from colorful pieces of silk cloth, and other beautiful works from the proud region. One of the most popular works on display was the Kutani porcelain ware. Different from other Japanese pottery or porcelain, Kutani ware is baked many times and features layered artwork. Much like the difference between oil painting and watercolors, Kutani ware often features intricately detailed colors without any pigment running.
At a booth of Kutani ware at the event, we found what we were looking for: Kutani ware based on characters from the popular TV series Ultra Seven. Among the collection were Ultra Seven, Monster Eleking, and Alien Metron. The Monster Eleking piece was particularly eye-catching and was decorated with an intricate foliage design. Alien Metron was also not to be missed and featured a delicate yet precise flower pattern over its face. The collection was made by a group of three young female Kutani artisans. Unfortunately though, the collection wasn’t for sale. Only three sets were produced and one of them was given to Tsuburaya Productions.
Even though we can’t buy them yet, we can still drool over them! The gold accents, layered flower designs, and foliage patterns seen throughout the collection are all traditional Kutani techniques. Each piece is exquisitely crafted and needs to be seen.
