This is a ceramic rice-cooking vessel (hagama) produced in Japan during the Second World War, when metal resources were in short supply. Especially after the onset of the Pacific War, iron and aluminum were prioritized for military use, making it difficult to produce metal cookware for households. As a substitute, ceramic hagama were developed in various pottery regions across the country. The form closely resembles the traditional metal hagama, with a distinctive flared rim. Its thick walls offer excellent heat retention, though the material's fragility made durability a known limitation. Most examples are made from red clay, resulting in a warm reddish-brown tone. Some bear stamped marks from military supply facilities or manufacturing kilns. Today, these pieces are valued not only for their rarity, but also as quiet records of a time when daily life adapted to the pressures of war.
