Izumiyama is located in the northeastern part of Arita Town, Nishimatsuura County, Saga Prefecture, and produces raw materials for porcelain. It erupted in the third stage of the geological age to form a hill of quartz coarse-grained rock, and the sulfuric gas from the mineral spring is thought to have promoted decomposition. It was discovered by a naturalized Korean potter, Kanagae Sanbei (Lee Sanpei), in the Genna-Kan’ei period (1615-44), and for more than 100 years it was the only source of porcelain in Japan, but from the Shotoku period (1711-16), the use of amakusa stone gradually increased. Since the selection of amakusa stone was very rough at that time, the use of amakusa stone was strictly prohibited in Arita porcelain, except for Uchiyama and Ootoyama (except for Ootoyama) in order to protect the reputation of the product. See the article on “Arita-yaki” under “System of Uchiyama-otoyama”. (History of the Ceramic Industry in Early Modern Japan, History of Arita Porcelain Industry)
