Pieces such as vases, pots and show plates created in Noritake's early days, now referred to as "Old Noritake", were decorated using distinctive decorating techniques. Many of them were decorated by hand only by highly skilled craftsmen using materials which are no longer available nowadays. It would be very difficult to bring these techniques and materials back into today's ceramic industry. Nonetheless, Noritake has earnestly been engaged in the development of new materials and techniques with the intention of reviving such decorative designs by applying modern processes while achieving the creation of an unprecedented representation method.

The decorating techniques which are seen in "Old Noritake" include the following:

(1)Moriage (raised decoration on ceramics) : Slip clay (runny clay) and pigments are applied to the surface of ceramics to create three dimensional decorative effects.
(2)Kin-mori (raised gold decoration): Gold is painted with a brush where the Moriage technique is applied to give a finished look. (See 1 & 3 in the pictures)
(3) Enamel-mori (raised enamel decoration): Raised decoration using glassy pigments for opaque, lustrous appearance. Red, blue and green pigments are used. Also known as "Hoseki-mori" (raised jewellery decoration). (See 4 in the picture on the right)
(4)Sugaki (drawing): Images and patterns are drawn directly onto ceramics by highly skilled craftsmen. (See 2 in the picture on the left)

Development of new materials and new technology

· Environmentally conscious materials

New materials have been developed to represent designs which are vibrant yet environmentally friendly.

· Printing technology

While taking care of rich expressions and inspirations embraced in "Sugaki" (drawings), the printing technology we use is constantly improved to ensure stable production. The printing technology is also used for recapturing the expressions created using the "Kin-mori" technique.

· Decoration Technology

In order to re-create hemispherical-shape "Kin-mori" and "Enamel-mori" decoration using modern technology, new materials suitable for fixing raised decoration to the surface of ceramics are needed, so are various techniques such as glazing and firing. Noritake perseveres to develop new techniques and processes in search of rich expressions and inspirations.

Some of the techniques developed by Noritake

Mica material provides a sparkling luster like that of pearl, creating a sophisticated and elegant mood.

Raised decoration, which is transmissive and lustrous like jewellery, is arranged on tableware which would give a dining occasion a sense of superiority. As well as the development of materials, the development of glazing processes and firing conditions has been important in the success of this decoration technique.