Kagerōen (meaning “Garden of Heat Haze”) is the modern kiln and atelier responsible for reviving and continuing the tradition of Zeze-yaki pottery in the 20th century. The kiln’s founding is credited to Iwasaki Kenzō in 1919 (Taishō 8). Iwasaki Kenzō – a local prominent figure (of the Mitsubishi family lineage) – lamented the extinction of Zeze ware, which had flourished in earlier eras but had died out by the Meiji period. He marshalled support from notable artists of the time: Yamamoto Shunkyo, a famous Kyoto painter, joined as a collaborator, and Itō Tōzan II, a master potter from Kyōto, provided technical guidance. In Kenzō’s own villa in Otsu, they built a climbing kiln (noborigama) and set about recreating the classic glazes and forms of Zeze ware. This marked the birth of Kagerōen kiln as the heir to Zeze’s legacy.
Under Iwasaki Kenzō’s leadership – and with Omotesenke tea masters like Mutekisai Sōya encouraging tea-cultural authenticity – Kagerōen produced tea utensils faithful to the Enshū aesthetic (since Zeze was one of Enshū’s Seven Kilns). After Kenzō’s time, his son Iwasaki Shintei (b.1913) took over the kiln. Shintei devoted himself to the promotion and development of Zeze-yaki, building the foundation of its modern prosperity. He was recognized for his cultural contributions (awarded the Shiga Prefecture Culture Award in 1985) and even established a Zeze-yaki Art Museum in 1987 near the kiln’s site. Under Shintei, Kagerōen not only reproduced traditional styles but also expanded the repertoire of Zeze ware.