Two years after the 2024 earthquake and tsunami, potters in Japan's Noto Peninsula are finding purpose in reviving suzu ware, a traditional pottery craft devastated by the disaster.
Suzu ware, a pottery style from the Noto Peninsula in Ishikawa Prefecture, has endured two existential crises: it vanished in the late 15th century before being rediscovered and revived in the 1970s, and now faces recovery from a modern disaster.
On January 1, 2024, an earthquake and tsunami struck Oku-Noto, destroying all 22 kilns in Suzu. Persistent aftershocks have made reconstruction challenging and expensive. Years of accumulated wares were ruined, delivering both economic and emotional devastation. Like many residents, potters relocated to temporary housing and grappled with whether to persist amid broader human and financial losses.
"It was a really difficult time," says potter Mayumi Miyawaki, 52. "So many people were dead, including friends of mine. Everyone was struggling. This isn’t really the time to be worrying about suzu ware, I thought."
Two years on, in 2026, these potters are carrying on their craft, rediscovering purpose in the face of rubble and uncertainty, symbolizing resilience in preserving Noto's traditional heritage.