Tea Ceremony and Japanese Culture
Glossary of Japanese Kiln Sites
and Historical Types of Ceramics
Agano: Japanese ceramic ware produced in on the island of Kyushu (southern Japan,
present-day Fukuoka Prefecture); begun by Korean potters in late 16th to early 17th
centuries; frequently characterized by hakeme slip decoration
Arita: Japanese porcelain ware produced in Arita on the island of Kyushu (southern
Japan, present-day Saga Prefecture); location of discovery of first porcelain deposit in
Japan; established by by Korean potters in 17th century; center of the porcelain industry
in Japan
Asahi: Japanese high-fired ceramic ware produced in the city of Uji, south of Kyoto;
originated in late 16th to early 17th centuries
Bizen: Japanese unglazed, high-fired ceramic ware produced in the city of Bizen (town of
Imbe, present-day Okayama Prefecture); known for long firings in climbing kilns, with
resulting heavy ash deposits and other effects; originated in 12th century
Echizen: Japanese unglazed, high-fired ceramic ware produced in Echizen domain
(present-day Fukui Prefecture), influenced by the Sue wares of the Heian Period (7941192)
Hagi: Japanese high-fired ceramic ware produced in Hagi in southwestern Japan
(present-day Yamaguchi Prefecture); famous for milky white ash-glazed teawares;
originated in late 16th to early 17th centuries with Korean potters
Hizen: general term for Japanese ceramics and porcelains produced in the Hizen domain
on the island of Kyushu (present-day Nagasaki and Saga Prefectures) during the
Tokugawa Period (1603-1868)
Iga: Japanese unglazed, high-fired ceramic ware produced in the Iga domain (present-day
Mie Prefecture) close to Shigaraki beginning in the 16th century
Imari: Japanese porcelain wares produced in Arita; named "Imari" after the port from
which they were shipped to other Japanese cities, Southeast Asia, and Europe during the
Tokugawa Period (1603-1868)
Jômon: coil/slab-built, cord-marked, low-fired ceramic wares of prehistoric Japan; first
made on Japanese archipelago around 10,000 years ago
Karatsu: Japanese high-fired ceramic ware produced in Karatsu and surrounding areas
on the island of Kyushu (southern Japan, present-day Saga and Nagasaki Prefectures);
originated in 16th century with Korean potters
Kenzan: Japanese high-fired ceramic ware produced largely in Kyoto; founded by Ogata
Kenzan (1663-1743) a poet, painter, calligrapher, and potter who specialized in elegant
brushwork on ceramic forms
Koishiwara: Japanese high-fired ceramic ware produced in Koishiwara on the island of
Kyushu (southern Japan, present-day Fukuoka Prefecture); derived from Agano wares
and Takatori wares in 17th century
Kutani: Japanese porcelain ware produced in the Kaga domain (present day Ishikawa
Prefecture) beginning in the 17th century
Kyôyaki: "Kyoto ceramics"; Japanese high-fired and porcelain wares produced in Kyoto;
originated in 17th century; frequently using overglaze enamel decoration
Mashiko: high-fired ceramic ware named after town outside of Tokyo that has become
famous as a folk-craft village, pottery community, and home of Hamada Shoji
Mino: Japanese high-fired ceramic ware produced in the Seto and Mino domains (Gifu
Prefecture); famous for production of shino, yellow seto, black seto, and oribe; originated
in late 16th century
Ôhi: Japanese low-fired ceramic ware produced in Ôhi, near Kanazawa, in the Kaga
domain (present-day Ishikawa Prefecture) by the Ôhi family; founded in 1666 by the
potter Chôzaemon, a worker in the Raku workshop in Kyoto; wares (mostly tea bowls
and other tea ceramics) are similar to those produced by the Raku family, but are famous
for their amber (ame) glaze
Onta: Japanese high-fired ceramic ware produced in the town of Onta on the island of
Kyushu (southern Japan, present-day Fukuoka Prefecture); derived from Agano wares
and Takatori wares in 17th century
Oribe: Japanese high-fired ceramic ware; this term (named after the tea master and
warrior, Furuta Oribe, 1545-1615) has come to be applied to a wide range of ceramics;
general characteristics include highly articulated shapes, use of clear glaze, white slip,
underglaze brush work, and a dark green copper glaze; originated around 1600
Raku: Japanese low-fired ceramic ware produced in Kyoto by the Raku family; famous
for tea bowls and food dishes for use in the tea ceremony; originated in the late 16th
century; this term also applies to wares made by a wide variety of amateur and
professional potters in the tea community
Sanage: a Japanese ash-glazed, high-fired ceramic ware produced in Sanage, Aichi
Prefecture; inspired by Chinese celadons; originated around the 9th century
Satsuma: a Japanese high-fired ceramic ware produced in southern Kyushu (southern
Japan); originated in 17th century with Korean potters; in the Meiji period used to
designate ornately decorated wares produced for export in Yokohama
Seto: Japanese high-fired ceramic ware produced in the Seto and Mino domains (Gifu
Prefecture); famous for production of shino, yellow seto, black seto, and oribe; originated
in late 16th century
Seto-guro: black seto; Japanese high-fired ceramic ware; Japan's first truly black glaze,
made when iron glazed pots were removed for kilns when red-hot; originated in late 16th
century
Shigaraki: Japanese high-fired, unglazed ceramic ware produced in Shigaraki, Shiga
Prefecture; famous for ash deposits and distinctive forms; originated around 12th century,
spread from Tokoname and Atsumi
Shino: Japanese high-fired ceramic ware produced in the Seto and Mino domains (Gifu
prefecture); consists of a white, secondary clay body covered by a milky-translucent
ash/feldspar glaze; the term eshino (picture shino) indicates wares with iron-oxide
designs applied under the shino glaze; nezumi shino (grey shino) indicates wares with
designs carved into an iron slip, with the entire piece covered in the shino glaze.
Sueki: high-fired ceramic ware produced in Japan by potters who immigrated from Korea
(and possibly China?); originated around the 4th century, B.C.; led to the spread of highfired ceramic production throughout Japan; early wares were not glazed, but blackened;
later glaze technology arrived from Tang China, leading to the use of lead-based glazes
on low-fire wares, and feldspar-based glazes on high-fire wares
Takatori: Japanese ceramic ware produced in Chikuzen domain on the island of Kyushu
(southern Japan, present-day Fukuoka Prefecture); begun by Korean potters in late 16th
to early 17th centuries
Tokoname: a Japanese high-fired, ash-glazed ceramic ware produced in the region of
Sanage, (present-day Aichi Prefecture); inspired by Chinese celadons; originated around
the 9th century
Yayoi: low-fired ceramic wares made on the Japanese archipelago during the period ca
300 B.C.E. to ca 300 C.E.; differentiated from Jômon ceramics on the basis of a finergrained clay body, a smooth, thin, symmetrical, and less ornamented style, the aesthetic
influence of cast metal, and the appearance of gendered production patterns.