Noritake‘s products are created by combining the latest Japanese technology and traditional techniques with a history of more than 100 years. Behind its beauty is thorough quality control in which all processes from development of fabrics and painting materials to design, moulding, and painting are performed in-house, and commitment and uncompromising evolution to produce higher quality.

Manufacturing process / quality control  

There are many processes involved in producing Noritake products. We have a system in place to manage all of these manufacturing processes in-house. Strict control of Noritake begins with the stage of crushing and refining the clay that is the raw material to make the ceramic body. The standard is to satisfy the strength and translucency of the crushing method, composition, hardness,   Many processes have been mechanized, but there are still many manual processes by humans. This is because it requires judgment, delicate handiwork, and skills that enable intended expression, which are not possible with machines.

The handle of the cup, the spout of the pot, the knob of the lid, etc. are individually and carefully assembled by hand. In each process such as moulding and assembly, the thickness, weight, and distortion of the fabric are strictly checked and sent to the next process.

The glassy surface of the magnetic surface is called glaze, and it is fired by applying a glaze. Many mechanical glazed processes also require manual work. A craftsman carefully applies glaze to the surface of the relief and small parts with the appropriate thickness.  The glazed dough is fired to give it a unique luster. It is fired at least two times from the firing of the dough to the final product. The "kiln" is controlled by a data-based program based on the firing stage and the type of paint, but delicate temperature adjustments are made manually depending on the weather and temperature.

There are various painting methods, but “Decal” is the most common nowadays. This is a pattern printed on a special sheet, and Noritake also makes decal paper at its own factory. At first glance, it may seem like a simple task, but it takes a great deal of skill to apply the decal paper to a three-dimensional fabric accurately and without distortion. Craftsmen aim to acquire even higher skills and produce even higher quality products.

Noritake's main products, "white porcelain" and "bone china". What Noritake continues to pursue is the ideal "white" that "makes the food appealing". We are particular about the proper balance of bluish and yellow, and the glossy glaze surface where elegant white stands out. At the same time, the "translucency" created by devising raw materials and thinly moulding. "Strength" that is thin yet durable. Research and development for the uncompromising evolution of Noritake is continuing in order to create an ideal product that combines these in a well-balanced manner.

Vivid red and orange are very important colours, often used in flags and corporate logos for eye-catching. In ceramics paintings, it is difficult to express these vivid colours because firing at high temperature is required. So, pigments containing environmentally hazardous selenium and cadmium have been commonly used in the market. Although these harmful materials do not easily get released from properly fired dinnerware and have no influences to human bodies, Noritake has worked and developed new eco-friendly pigments that do not contain selenium and cadmium. Award of The Ceramic Society of Japan in 2020.

Rim with 24k gold and Platinum, Transparent and lustrous jewellery-like raised decoration are arranged on tableware to give a sense of superiority to a dining occasion. In order to realize this decoration technique, not only development of materials but also developments of glazing processes and firing conditions are important points to the success. With our basic technologies, Noritake will keep moving forward to develop new pigments and techniques to express the sensitive expressions to impress the world.