Excavated from Saikoukou 2/91, Nakanoto-cho, Kashima-gun, Ishikawa
14th century
Height 26.7cm, mouth diameter 4.75cm, body diameter 17.6cm, bottom diameter 10.0cm
Kashima Town Hall
　This vase was excavated in December 1958, during the clearing of arable land, from about 50 cm below the soil, in a pair with a vase of the same shape and size as this one. The site is located in the central lowlands of the Ochi rift valley, and from the name of the place, Saishoukou, it is thought to have been a small village that mainly consisted of a ritual group. This is probably a pair of vases dedicated to the gods as drinking vessels. The sharp, carefully crafted band on the oral portion of the vase. The shape of the body is narrower toward the bottom, and the design is applied only from the center of the body to the upper half, suggesting that this is one of the earliest plum vases of this type. The design is based on two leaves that split off from the root of one plant on either side, and then the leaves are drawn alternately on the left and right sides of a melancholy line extending from the root, forming the surface of the vessel, which is composed of 11 leaves. The ash glaze is applied thickly and generously, producing a beautiful light green color. The bottom is approximately 5 mm thin and was once broken off and joined with black lacquer. This indicates that it was not a one-time item, but was used for a long time as a sacred vessel.
