Japanese ceramics at USC Museum

The University of San Carlos (USC) Museum, in cooperation with the Sumitomo Foundation of Japan, opened last Feb. 22 a month-long exhibition titled “Japanese Ceramics: From Imari to Cebu” at its Institutional gallery.

Dr. Takenori Nogami, an expert on the trade in the 17th-18th century ceramics out of Japan, was the guest of honor.

Nogami, who arrived from Japan courtesy of The Japan Foundation-Manila, delivered a lecture tracing the development of porcelain production in Japan and the resultant export of Hizen porcelain to specific places in Asia, Africa, Latin America and Europe in the 17th century.

An archaeologist based at the Arita Folk and History Museum in Kyushu, Nogami also discussed the significance of three Japanese porcelain pieces excavated in Boljoon town, southern Cebu in 2009 by Jojo R. Bersales of USC and Sandy de Leon of the National Museum. The three pieces were loaned from the Boljoon Parish Museum for the exhibit opening.

Among the highlights of the exhibit are 33 large-format photographs of the porcelain-producing areas of Arita, Imari, Yoshida and Hasami, all in the island of Kyushu, by Fr. Generoso Rebayla Jr., SVD, USC vice president for finance and a photography buff.

Nearly 100 contemporary ceramic pieces from Japan make up the main bulk of the exhibit — the result of the visit to Japan by a team from the University of San Carlos in October last year to visit museums, ancient ceramic kilns as well as modern factories and shops.

This exhibit is part of the education programs of both the museum and its research arm, the USC Kabilin Heritage Studies Center.

The exhibition is open to the public from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. and is free of charge.