UPCOMING EXHIBITION

“The Story of Nippon Coffee Cups – The Coffee Cups That Americans Called ‘Nippon’ and Loved”

Period　March 28 (Fri) – April 24 (Thu), 2025

From March 28 (Friday) to April 24 (Thursday), 2025, The Nippon Club will present a special exhibition, “The Story of Nippon Coffee Cups—The Coffee Cups That Americans Called ‘Nippon’ and Loved.” This exhibition will showcase approximately 50 coffee cups and several cup sets exported to the United States from the Meiji era (1868–1912) to the Showa era (1926–1989).

After the Meiji Restoration (1868), Japan encouraged exports to Western countries, and regions such as Arita, Kyoto, and Seto became centers of Western-style tableware production. In the United States, Japanese porcelain became widely known as “Nippon.” This name originated from the McKinley Tariff Act of 1890, which mandated that the country of origin be marked on imported goods. Until 1921, many Japanese porcelain manufacturers labeled their products “Nippon” instead of “Japan.”

This exhibition explores the craftsmanship, innovative designs, and cultural background that captivated American consumers. The artisans, who had never tasted coffee, created stunning coffee cups through trial and error. Behind their creations were designers and traders who traveled to New York to study local trends and styles. For them, The Nippon Club served as a crucial cultural hub and a place of belonging.

By the 1960s, Japanese tableware dominated over 70% of the U.S. market, demonstrating the high regard for Japanese craftsmanship and design. The white porcelain technique, which enhanced the appearance of coffee and cup decorations, is a valuable treasure in which Japan can take pride worldwide.

One of the first scholars to recognize the artistic value of Japan’s export porcelain from the Meiji era, notably “Old Noritake,” was Dr. Howard Kotler, a ceramicist at the University of Washington. The
1982 exhibition, “Noritake Art Deco Porcelains,” played a key role in reintroducing Japanese porcelain’s beauty to a broader audience.

Photo Left：Koransha, Cherry Blossom Design, Meiji Period, Arita
Photo Right：Old Noritake, Geisha-Print Art Deco Cup and Saucer for Export to England, Late Meiji – Taisho Period (Starting from Meiji 41), Nagoya

＜Exhibition Structure＞

Section 1:
The Dawn of Export Porcelain – From the Early Meiji Era (1868–1912) to the Taisho Era (1912–1926)

Section 2:
Re-evaluating American Art Deco – Up to the Occupied Japan Period (1945–1952)

Japanese coffee cups have been cherished in America for decades.

“The Story of Nippon Coffee Cups” delves into their allure. The exhibition offers a glimpse into the history of Japan-U.S. cultural exchange through these exquisite cups.

◆Gallery Talk

Join Dr. Yoshie Itani, the Director of this exhibition, for an insightful discussion while viewing the exhibits. Learn how Japanese porcelain spread and was embraced in the U.S. market from the late 19th to early 20th century.

Date & Time: March 29 (Sat) at 2:00 PM
Location: The Nippon Gallery (7th Floor, The Nippon Club)
Admission: Free
Registration : gallery@nipponclub.org

About Dr. Yoshie Itani

Dr. Yoshie Itani is a scholar specializing in the history of modern export crafts, focusing on how Japanese porcelain developed in overseas markets.

After completing a Master’s degree in Aesthetics at Kwansei Gakuin University, she pursued further studies in modern export crafts at SOAS, University of London, earning an M.A. with Distinction. She then completed her Doctorate (D.Phil) at the Oriental Institute, University of Oxford, with a dissertation on modern export porcelain, including Old Noritake, in 2006.

From 2015 to 2023, she served as a Specially Appointed Professor at the Global Support Center, Tokyo University of the Arts. She is a Visiting Professor at Teikyo University and a Lecturer at Tokyo University of the Arts.

She is also active in cultural exchange and craft research as the President of the Japan Coffee Culture Society, the President of the Contemporary Craft Artists Association, and the Executive Director of the International Craft Exchange.