How to Care for Japanese Ceramics | Ishi no KA

丁寧に扱えば、一生もの。
Handled with care, a piece lasts a lifetime. Japanese ceramics are meant for daily use, not display — but a few habits make the difference between a piece that ages beautifully and one that chips too soon.

Is It Dishwasher Safe?

Unless a product is specifically listed as dishwasher-safe, wash it by hand. Glazes vary piece to piece — some are fired at lower temperatures, some carry hand-painted overglaze enamel (nishikide) that a dishwasher's heat and detergent can dull over time — so hand-washing is the safer default for anything not explicitly marked otherwise.

Hand-Washing, the Short Version

Warm water, a soft sponge, mild dish soap — nothing abrasive.
Avoid soaking for long periods, especially unglazed or partially unglazed pieces (Shigaraki-style ware, exposed clay near a foot ring), since raw clay can absorb water and odors over time.
Dry by hand rather than air-drying in a rack — it prevents water spots and mineral buildup in a textured or crackled glaze (the kind of surface prized in Shino or Kairagi-style pieces).

Avoid Thermal Shock

Sudden temperature changes are the most common cause of cracking in ceramics — going straight from the freezer to a hot oven, or rinsing a piece that just came out of the microwave under cold water. Let a piece come closer to room temperature before a big temperature swing in either direction.

Microwave and Oven Use

Most glazed stoneware and porcelain tableware is microwave-safe for reheating. Avoid the oven and stovetop unless a piece is specifically made for it — most tableware (as opposed to cookware) isn't designed for direct heat. When in doubt, treat a piece as reheating-only, not cooking-safe.

Storing and Stacking

Add a thin pad — a paper towel, felt, or cloth — between stacked plates and bowls. Glaze-on-glaze contact over time is what causes the fine surface scratching that dulls a glossy glaze.
Store cups and sake sets upright where the rim can't take an edge-on knock — rims are the most fragile point on almost any piece.
If storing for a long stretch, a soft cloth wrap (a folded tea towel works) protects better than an open shelf in a high-traffic kitchen.

When a Piece Chips or Cracks

In the wabi-sabi tradition, damage was never the end of a piece's life. Kintsugi (金継ぎ) — literally "golden joinery" — is the centuries-old practice of repairing broken ceramics with lacquer dusted in gold, treating the break as part of the piece's history rather than something to hide. A chipped or cracked piece you love is often a kintsugi candidate, not a piece to retire.

A Quick Reference

Dishwasher: only if explicitly listed as dishwasher-safe
Microwave: generally fine for reheating, glazed pieces
Oven / stovetop: avoid unless made for it
Soaking: avoid, especially on unglazed or partially unglazed pieces
Storage: pad between stacked pieces, protect rims

Treated well, a handmade piece doesn't just last — it develops a quiet history of its own, the same way the wabi-sabi philosophy behind it always intended. For the story of how each piece is made in the first place, see our guide to the techniques and traditions behind Japanese ceramics.