It is simply white. That is Izushi ware. In Izushi, part of Toyooka in Hyogo, a small castle town called the little Kyoto of Tajima, a pottery festival is held in autumn. Izushi ware is pure white porcelain, with no color and no painting, only a translucent whiteness. The material is white pottery stone quarried locally, crushed, polished, and fired. Because nothing extra is added, the quality of the white itself is what counts. To have nothing is difficult; there is no hiding flaws. The tradition dates to the eighteenth century, when local people discovered the white stone. The castle town also has a specialty, Izushi sara-soba, buckwheat noodles served on small white plates, which are of course Izushi ware. Vessel and noodles; on a white plate rests the life of this town. Stroll, and take home one white piece you like.