[Online Sake Cup Shop]History and features of each production center

History and features of each production center

This table will provide with general information on national-wide production centers, of which pottery and porcelain are designated as the Traditional Craft Products by the Japanese Government.

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Pottery	Location	History and Features
Tsuboya-Yaki	Okinawa	Located at Okinawa Prefecture. Established in the 17th century. There are two distincive types, "Arayachi" (or unglazed ware) and "jyoyachi" (or glazed ware). "Arayachi" is getting outdated now. The ware is characterized by carving decoration of birds and fish and unique coloring. Approx. 25 potteries engage in pottery production.
Shodai-Yaki	Kumamoto	Located at Kumamoto Prefecture. Originated in the 17th century. The ware is produced with the iron-rich clay which resulted in the rustic and bold style. 12 potteries active here.
Satsuma-Yaki	Kagoshima	Located at Kagoshima Prefecture. Originated by Korean potters in the late 16th century. There were two distinctive styles, simple solid "black Satsuma" for the lower classes and creamy white, graceful "white Satsuma" with fine crackle for the upper classes. 203 potteries active here.
Mikawachi-Yaki	Nagasaki	Located at Nagasaki Prefecture. Orinated by Korean potters in the late 16th century. The porcelain ware is well-known for its exquisite blue cobalt painting. Especially, "children in Chinese costumes" is a quite typical and famous design. 35 potteries active here.
Koishiwara-Yaki	Fukuoka	Located at Fukuoka Prefecture. Originated in the late 17th century. The ware is characterized with the folkcraft-looking products by decorations like jumping marks and slip-painting with brushes and combs. 50 potteries active here.
Karatsu-Yaki	Saga	Located at Saga Prefecture. Orinated by Korean potters in the 16th centurey. The teabowls and vessels produced here were very well-accepted in the tea ceremony. The ware is characterized by the natural clay color along with the simple and vivid paintings. 69 potters active here..
Imari-Yaki	Saga	Located at Saga Prefecture. Orinated in the early 17th centurey. The first poracelain ware had been produced here in Japan. Initiated by the korean potter Lee Cham Pyung. Many porcelain products with overglaze enamel decoration were exported to European cuntries. Arita is one of the largest porcelain-producing center in Japan today. 159 potteries active including Arita-Yaki here..
Arita-Yaki	Saga	Located at Saga Prefecture. Orinated in the early 17th centurey. The first poracelain ware had been produced here in Japan. Initiated by the korean potter Lee Cham Pyung. Many porcelain products with overglaze enamel decoration were exported to European cuntries. Arita is one of the largest porcelain-producing center in Japan today. 159 potteries active including Imari-Yaki here..
Hasami-Yaki	Nagsaki	Located at Nagasaki Prefecture. Orinated by the Korean potters in the late 16th century. It is characterized by a beautiful indigo blue paintings. In addition to the traditional, the modern is produced now. 120 potteries active here.
Amakusa Toji	Kumamoto	Located at Kumamoto Prefecture. Originated in the early 17th century. Amakusa is producing high-quality ceramic stone, or toseki. The ware is characterized by its variety in style, texture and application of glazes. 10 potteries active here.
Agano-Yaki	Fukuoka	Located at Fukuoka Prefecture. Originated in the early 17th century. The ware has thin bodies with almost no painting works due to the nature of the clay. The typical ware has greyish-green glaze. It was one of Enshu Nana Wares well-known for tea ceremony. 28 potteries active here.
Tobe-Yaki	Ehime	Located at Ehime Prefecture. Orinated in the late 18th century under Imari- and Arita-Yaki. Porcelain ware are mainly produed. Both traditional and modern motifs are painted in natural cobalts. 89 potteries acitve here.
Otani-Yaki	Tokushima	Located at Tokushima Prefecture.The production of porcelain were produced in the 18th century, by inviteing potters from Kyushu, for a short period of time. In 1784, pottery production started by inviting shigaraki potters. The various utilitarian wares from small to large are being produced now. 8 potteries active here.
Iwami-Yaki	Shimane	Located at Shimane Prefecture. The origin dates back to the middle of the 18th century. The ware is characterixed by a shiny reddish-brown color. The large jars or containers are produced due to its unabsorbent clay. 13 potteries active here..
Hagi-Yaki	Yamaguchi	The origin of Hagi-Yaki dates back to some 400 years ago when the feudal lord, Mori Terumoto brought back two Korean potters to his territory after foreign campaign. Since the soft clay is fired at low temperatures for long time, the Hagi-Yaki can gradually abosorb liquid like sake or tea which result in the seven metamorphosis of Hagi-Yaki, or "Hagi no Nana Bake" . In tea ceremony, it is known as tea maturing, or "Cha Nare". Another feature is its simplicity of form and decoration. In general, Hagi-Yaki has no under- or overglazing painted decoration.
Bizen-Yaki	Okayama	Bizen-Yaki is one of the Old Six Kilns. At end of the Muromachi period (14th-16th century), the rustic and undecorated appearance of this pottery was well accepted among the tea lovers. Natural art by “Kiln changes”, or “Happy Accidents” is outstanding features of Bizen-Yaki. During firing, unexpected changes of color and appearance on the body happen, resulted in “no two pieces same”.
Tanba-Yaki	Hyogo	One of the Old Six Kilns. The pottery originated in the late 12th century. The ware is characterized by its innocent simplicity and user-orientedness. Pottery covered with the ash and iron glaze are mainly produced. In the 17th century, noborigama or "climbing kilns" were adopted in place of anagama or "hole kiln" .
Shigaraki-Yaki	Shiga	One of The Old Six Kilns. The ware originated in the early 8th century. At the time, the area produced roofing tiles for the Sigaraki palace. In the17th century, the tea bowls and other articles were produced for the tea ceremony. A natural glaze from the wood ash is one of its features.
Kyo-Yaki	Kyoto	Kyo-yaki seems to have started in 794 when the capital was transferred to Kyoto. Famous potters have played an active part in the 17th century, Pottery and porcelain with overglazed decoration were produced. The wide variety of products from the traditional to the modern is outstanding.
Izushi-Yaki	Hyogo	Izushi-yaki is the whitest ceramics made of local good quality kaoline. The origin dates back to the 18th century. With many helps of Arita-yaki potteres, Izushi-yaki has been developed in and around present Izushi-town. The silky texture of the white body and the elegant appearance are distincive characteristics.
Tokoname-Yaki	Aichi	One of The Old Six Kilns. Origated in the 12th century(Heian period). Main products have been shifted from time to time. The red coloring tea pots are widely accepted as a dairy utensil.
Seto-Yaki	Aichi	One of The Old Six Kilns. The pottery was established during the early Edo period (1600-1868) while the origins dated back to earthware in Nara period(710-794). Various glazes and techniques are handed down and in use.
Mino-Yaki	Gifu	One of The Old Six Kilns. Originating in the 10th century, the area increased pottery production in the late 16th century due to the growing popularity of Japanes tea ceremony. The area is still one of the key production centers in Japan.
Iga-Yaki	Mie	The ware originated in the late 7th century to the 8th century, as the earthware called sueki. The area became well-known with tea bowls for tea ceremony in the 17th century. Vitrified glass, or Bidoro is one of its characters. The Iga-Yaki has some similarity with Shigaraki-Yaki next door.
Banko-Yaki	Mie	The ware were established in the mid-18th century.A wealthy mercahnt stamped his ware with Banko, or literally "eternity, constancy". The ware is characterized by its brown or purple color.
Kutani-Yaki	Ishikawa	The Kutani-Yaki porcelain was originated in the 17th cemtury. The Kaga clan had studied the Arita-Yaki porcelain in Kyshu reigion and set up a kiln using the local material. It is characterized by its use of heavily overlaid vivid pigments. There are different styles.
Echizen-Yaki	Fukui	One of The Old Six Kilns. The history had been dated back to the Heian period (794-1185). It is characterized by the natural glaze (wood ash and iron in clay) and the simple shape without decoration.
Mashiko-Yaki	Tochigi	The pottery was developed under the infuluence of Kasama-Yaki in the mid 19th century. The area is well-kown as one of the pottery producing centers. Decoration with the simple beauty is a feature traditionally.
Kasama-Yaki	Ibaraki	The pottery started at the Kanto area in the mid Edo period. Kitchen-ware like bowls, jugs and the like were main products at the time. The area enjoy a good reputation on "variety" saying that "Featureless is Feature".
Oborisoma-Yaki	Fukushima	The area started producing daily ware by famer in the late 17th century and developed under help of the governing load. "Galloping hoses" and a crackled celadon green body are main features of the ware.
Aizuhongo-Yaki	Fukushima	The area started producing roof tiles for a castle in the 16th century and was influenced by Mino-Yaki, Kyo-Yaki and Imari-Yaki in the mid-17th century. Now, this area makes rarely both pottery and porcelain. Most of products are in everyday use.

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