JICON is a porcelain brand that launched together in collaboration with Japanese designer, OJI Masanori.
The brand name means “porcelain (JI) in modern times (CON).” In the Buddhist words, JICON means “seize the day.” It also denotes "porcelain (JI) created by the house of IMAMURA” of the Touetsugama kiln, founded 350 years ago. (Note that “IMA” means “modern times” in Japanese and can be paraphrased as “CON.”)
The Touetsugama kiln originated in Mikawachi of Sasebo City in Nagasaki Prefecture as a house kiln under the patronage of the Hirado clan. The kiln was redeployed to Arita in Saga Prefecture by IMAMURA XII for its expansion. The second son of IMAMURA Hiroshi XIII, IMAMURA Hajime, went independent from the Touetsugama kiln and established his own kiln, IMAMURA Porcelain, under which he continues to manufacture the JICON series.
The kiln makes porcelains for daily life with its traditional white porcelain techniques using Amakusa Touseki (porcelain stone).
