VOL.213 MARCH 2026
EXPLORING JAPANESE POTTERY Nihongawara: Preserving and Passing on Tradition

The magnificent tiled roof on Myoho-in temple, a designated National Treasure of Japan 

Used as a building material for historical cultural properties and venerable historical structures, nihongawara, roof tiles have long protected the wooden houses of Japan. We spoke with TAKEMURA Masao, chairman of the Japan Association for Inheritance Skills of Traditional Kawara-tile Roofing about the history and development of nihongawara.

Nihongawara, a type of ceramic made of clay, are used as roofing material for traditional Japanese architecture. Fired at high temperatures, these tiles are extremely strong and durable, and as they are not painted, they do not require repainting to maintain. These traditional Japanese tiles come in different shapes for various applications: marugawara (round tiles),¹ hiragawara (concave tiles),² nokigawara (eave tiles),³ onigawara (demon mask tiles),⁴ toribusuma (bird-shaped ridge tiles),⁵ and more. The tiles not only protect the roof but also serve as a key element in forming the building’s appearance. According to TAKEMURA, the origins of nihongawara are said to date back approximately 3,000 years to China.

“Records in Nihon Shoki (“The Chronicles of Japan”), the oldest Japanese historical text said to have been completed in 720, indicate that roof tiling was introduced to Japan by kawara-hakase, master tilers who arrived from the Korean Peninsula in 558. Nihongawara were first used in the construction of Asukadera, Japan’s oldest Buddhist temple, before spreading to the palaces and temples of Fujiwara-kyo, Heijo-kyo, and Heian-kyo, which served as imperial capitals.”

From around the mid-16th century, demand for nihongawara had risen as castle architecture evolved, and this demand brought advances in shosei,⁶ firing techniques. TAKEMURA explains, “It was during that period that the silver-colored ibushigawara,⁷ smoked roof tiles that a type of nihongawara, came to be crafted.” Around the same time, gold leaf began to be applied to the nokigawara. Initially used only for the roofs of special structures, nihongawara become common on ordinary homes by the Edo period (early 17th to mid-late 19th century).

“In Edo (present-day Tokyo), where fires were frequent, tile roofing was encouraged to prevent the spread of fire and came to be adopted even for ordinary houses.”

One of the main characteristics of nihongawara is their weight. Hiragawara weigh about 3kg and marugawara about 2.8kg apiece, with Japanese houses bearing a load of some 104kg per square meter of tile roof.

“In a structurally solid building, the weight of the tiles lowers the center of gravity, which increases the structure’s resistance to earthquakes, typhoons and other natural disasters. These tiles are also exceptionally durable and long-lasting roofing materials, as demonstrated by the fact that the tiles from the time Asukadera temple was originally founded remain still functional today. As a general guideline for maintenance, partial repairs are said to be sufficient about once every 100 years, with a full re-roofing only every 200 years. The fact that only the damaged tiles need to be replaced is a major advantage.”

TAKEMURA has himself been involved in the restoration of the roofs of Kiyomizudera,¹⁰ Myoho-in,¹¹ and other National Treasures¹² and Important Cultural Properties.

“In restoring Important Cultural Properties, we emphasize on respecting the intent behind the original design and setting aside personal opinions to faithfully preserve and restore the original roof. We carefully sort and clean old tiles, striving to reuse them whenever possible. Onigawara and other ornamental tiles, too, are repaired and reused as long as there is no structural issue.”

In addition, the Japan Association for Inheritance Skills of Traditional Kawara-tile Roofing carries out a variety of activities designed to pass on traditional tile manufacturing and roofing techniques to future generations. “Through training programs in roof tiling of nihongawara based on full-scale drawings of Japanese tiles from each historical period, the association works to preserve traditional techniques and foster the next generation of skilled craftsmen.”

Japanese roof tiling, which has been carefully preserved by craftspeople in this way, now faces a serious crisis to its survival.

“The properties of the clay used in making nihongawara are considered paramount, followed by the kiln in which the tiles are fired and lastly the techniques employed in their production. Mikawa clay from Aichi Prefecture,¹³ used for the roof tiles across Japan, including those of Important Cultural Properties was produced by seven factories blending multiple raw materials in 1974. By 2025, however, only one of these factories was still operating.”

TAKEMURA continues to advocate for the preservation of National Treasures and Important Cultural Properties, as well as for an environment that ensures the continuation of traditional nihongawara techniques. When you visit Japan’s most revered temples, take a moment to look up and consider the ambitions and passions of the tilers.

• 1. Semi-cylindrical tiles. The roof is constructed with a combination of round and concave tiles.
• 2. Concave rectangular slab tiles
  
  Example of hiragawara 
• 3. Roof tiles used for the eaves
• 4. Decorative tile attached to the end of the roof ridge. The well-known demon mask motif is believed to ward off misfortune.
• 5. Circular roof tile protruding high above an onigawara at the roof’s peak
  
  The ogre-shaped tiles are called onigawara, and the cylindrical tiles that curve and protrude from above them are called toribusuma.
• 6. Process of firing and hardening molded clay in a kiln
• 7. Refers to tiles formed from clay, fired in a kiln, then sealed in an air-tight space and steamed
• 8. In ukiyo-e, literally “floating-world pictures,” the “floating world” refers to everyday life, as these woodblock prints portrayed everyday scenes in ordinary people’s lives.
• 9. Born in 1797, died in 1858. A Japanese painter known for landscape prints such as Tokaido Gojusan-tsugi (“Fifty-three Stages of the Tokaido Highway”). He specialized in scenic views of various provinces and famous places in Edo.
• 10. Temple founded in 778 in Kyoto City, Kyoto Prefecture. The Kiyomizu stage extending outward from the main hall is the most famous of all the Kiyomizudera structures. It is a designated National Treasure of Japan and, as part of the Historic Monuments of Ancient Kyoto, a registered UNESCO World Heritage site.
• 11. Temple said to have been founded in the 9th century in Kyoto City, Kyoto Prefecture. The temple’s kitchen quarters, known as the kuri, date to around 1595 and are designated as a National Treasure.
• 12. Tangible cultural assets such as buildings, crafts, sculpture, and historical materials are designated Important Tangible Cultural Properties. Items of particularly high value in terms of world culture are designated as National Treasures and are protected accordingly.
• 13. Sanshugawara from Aichi Prefecture, sekishugawara from Shimane Prefecture, and awajigawara from Hyogo Prefecture are dubbed the Three Great Nihongawara, together boasting 80% of the share of roof tiles across Japan.

By MOROHASHI Kumiko
Photo: Adobe Stock; PIXTA; ColBase