Made in Japan; Microwave and dishwasher safe. The historic town of Hasami in Nagasaki Prefecture is one of the foremost pottery districts in Japan. Hasami began crafting its porcelainware almost 400 years ago during the Edo period, distributing them throughout Japan as well as to Europe through the port of Nagasaki. Hasami craftsmen were able to develop a highly efficient system to mass produce their porcelain products thereby making them more consistent in quality and reasonable in price. Due to the organic nature of making this type of porcelain-ware, color variation among different pieces, color unevenness within a single piece, and appearance of 'staining' in the glaze, and textural difference, is all completely normal and part of its organic aesthetic. It is caused by the uncontrollable chemical reaction between the glaze and raw materials during the extreme firing process. These changes in color and texture is not considered second quality nor defective within the Hasami craftsmen community. Each piece is one of a kind, and what gives HASAMI PORCELAIN its unique character. Similar to wood, ceramic is organic material that naturally changes over time. Your Hasami Porcelain ware will likely stain, darken, or develop patina with time, use, and love. Among all the glazes available, the black finish is most known to reflect change and patina, especially when it comes into contact with oils. Foods with natural oils and drinks like coffee can all play a role in changing the properties of the products over time. To mitigate the effects of this, you can do the following: Mix baking soda with vinegar and place over the stained area. Cover the plate with a paper towel and allow it to sit for about an hour. Wash off with hot water and mild dish soap Deeper stains caused by natural oils or acidic foods etc. may require repeating the process above. Please note it may not remove 100% of the stain and you may still see some residual spots afterward.
