Tobikanna
Tobikanna (Japanese: 飛び鉋) is a ceramic decorative technique in which rhythmic, repeating patterns are carved into the surface of pottery using a special cutting tool while the vessel rotates on a pottery wheel.
In this technique the potter holds a metal or bamboo tool against the surface of a rotating vessel, typically while the clay is still in a leather-hard state. As the wheel turns, the cutting edge intermittently removes small flakes of clay, producing a pattern of repeated marks arranged in bands around the vessel.
The resulting decoration consists of short, evenly spaced cuts that create a distinctive textured surface. The patterns may appear as rows of diagonal marks, arcs, or other repeating shapes depending on the form of the tool and the movement of the potter’s hand.
Tobikanna decoration is often applied to bowls, plates, and other utilitarian vessels. The carved patterns may remain visible beneath transparent glaze or may be combined with other decorative techniques such as slip coatings or painted designs.
The technique is particularly associated with certain Japanese stoneware traditions and reflects influences from Korean ceramic practices introduced to Japan in the early modern period.
