4th-market
 
The Mie prefecture in Japan has always been home to many famous Ceramic manufacturers. In 2005 four of these manufacturers, specialized in Bankoyaki Ceramics, decided to join forces and establish a new company called 4th-market. 4th-market takes it’s name from the city of Yokkaichi where it is located. Yokkaichi means “market on the fourth day”. Bankoyaki ceramic is on of the most important local industries in Yokkaichi city.
 
The main focus of Japanese “Bankoyaki” artisans is to create beautiful and practical pottery suitable for day to day use. Resulting in products with a perfect shape. And as time passes by, the daily use of these ceramics will make them more beautiful.
Bankoyaki ceramics are well known all over Japan. The nabe pan for example, with it’s unique heat resistance, covers 80~90 % of the complete Japanese market share. Also the well known traditional Japanese teapot (Kyusu) is a Bankoyaki product!
 
Bankoyaki dates back to the 18 century Edo period. The famous Tokaido trade route between Edo (modern day Tokyo) and Kyoto brought prosperity to the region, encouraging local potteries to start producing more ceramics. At the end of the 19th century local manufacturers started to perfection their production techniques for world wide trading. This was the start and build of Japan’s famous name in ceramics all over the world. Till the end of the 20th century the export of ceramics was one of the most important businesses in the Mie prefecture.
 
All four manufacturers that formed 4th-market have their own unique specialism. While some of them are already more than a hundred years old, all of them have at least half a century experience in creating ceramics. All 4th-market products are hand made. All ceramic molds are created and maintained by highly experienced artisans.
 
4th-market combines all this expertise and uses it to design beautiful, harmonious and modern lines of table and kitchenware.