Extrusion vs. Dry Press

Tajimi: Extrusion and Dry Press in Japanese Tile-Making

In the rolling hills of Gifu Prefecture, Tajimi has been forged by fire and earth. For centuries, its artisans have worked with clays born of volcanic ash—rich in minerals, resilient yet malleable, able to endure the hottest kilns. From this soil and flame has emerged one of Japan’s six historic centres of ceramics.

Dry press compacts fine clay dust into moulds, producing sharp edges, smooth profiles, and exceptional consistency.

Blending the Clay

Every tile begins with clay. In Tajimi, up to fifteen different clays and substrates may be blended, sometimes incorporating fragments of older tiles returned to the mix. Smooth clays lend strength, aggregates introduce texture, and natural oxides—iron, manganese, and other earth pigments—fire into tones both deep and nuanced. Each batch is carefully balanced so that even as the clay shifts with the land, the finished tile remains harmonious and true.

Extrusion pushes moist clay through a mould or die, creating tiles with depth and tactility. Surfaces are often lightly hand-marked before drying, leaving the subtle imprint of the maker’s touch.

Quiet Strength

At Makani, we collaborate with Tajimi’s specialist factories to translate this mastery into our collections. Some tiles are dry pressed for clarity and precision; others are extruded, revealing depth and individuality. Rare among ceramic centres, Tajimi can even extrude porcelain, marrying strength with refinement in a way few places in the world can match.

Formed from volcanic clay, shaped by fire, and refined with care, Tajimi tiles carry a quiet strength. Subtle, enduring, unmistakably Japanese, this is the quality that lies at the heart of Makani’s collections.