About Us

KIBIDO
714 Inbe, Bizen City
Okayama 〒705-0001
(5 min. walk from Inbe Station. Parking available)
(T) 0869.64.4467 | (F) 0869.64.4479
e-mail: mail@bizenyakikibido.com

Store Hours:
Sat: 12pm – 5pm
Sun, Tue, Fri: 10am – 5pm
Mon, Thu: 10am – 4pm
Wednesday: Closed

During the reign of Ikeda Mitsumasa, the head of the Bizen Clan (1584-1616), only six families were authorized to produce potteries in Bizen District to ensure the highest quality. One of such familes was the Kimura family who has since then carried on the tradition of Bizenyaki for over ten generations under the name ‘KIBIDO’. Our studio is located right in the heart of Bizen City, Okayama, Japan.

KIBIDO has been operating under the direction of our ceramic artist, Bifu Kimura, since 1971. He has won awards in many Japanese pottery exhibitions. His works have been featured in magazines, on television, and at numerous galleries, exhibitions and restaurants both in Japan and in the United States. He is a member of Bizenyaki Touyuukai Society.

Mizuho Kimura was born into the family of ceramic artists. She began her understudy training with her father, Bifu Kimura, upon graduating from high school. In order to broaden her experience as an artist, she chose to go abroad to America in 2003 to study art and English. After getting married in the United States, she and her husband moved back to Japan in 2011, and ever since has carried on the tradition of Bizen pottery as the 10th generation artist.

Yosuke Kimura grew up in Los Angeles, California. After studying architecture, he spent the next 20 years working as a structural designer in New York. In 2005, he married Mizuho Kimura, a ceramic artist from Bizen. After moving back to Bizen in 2011, he began his career as a ceramic artist. He continues to seek innovative ways to incorporate his background and unique design concepts into the traditional art of Bizen pottery.

NOBORIGAMA – KIBIDO features its own ‘noborigama’, traditional four-chambered climbing kiln built on a slope, where thousands of our Bizen wares are fired for 14 days at temperatures reaching 1250°C (2282°F). The firing takes place typically once a year, usually in the spring time when the climate is moderate.

STORE – Our Store is located on premise, and offers wide range of Bizen potteries from sake bottles, tea sets to flower vases and a lot more.

GARDEN – Complimentary Japanese tea and traditional sweets are often served in our own bizenware with the beautiful view of our garden to the customers based on availability.

STUDIO – Our production Studio, complete with potter’s wheels and the kiln, is available for tour when it is in operation during normal business hours. English tours are also available upon request. Please contact us for more details.