Ureshino-yaki is produced in Nishi-Ureshino-mura, Fujitsu-gun, Hizen Province (Ureshino-cho, Ureshino-shi, Saga Prefecture). It is also called Uchinoyama-yaki. It is said that the kiln was established in Uchinoyama by two naturalized potters, Nakasawara and Kanahara, after the Japanese invasion of Japan in 1592-8. Later, Ureshino Tokugiri became known, and by the Meiwa period (1764-72), the number of manufacturers of crude porcelain rice bowls increased to more than two hundred.
However, it gradually declined and by the Meiji era (1889-1912), only Tominaga Genroku’s porcelain business was left, but from 1889 (1889-22), it gradually began to produce good quality products, which were also called Genroku ware. Uchinoyama was under the direct domain of the former Saga Domain, and the pottery industry was under the jurisdiction of the Arita Magistrate’s Office, which is said to have been very protective of the industry. (Shiota Rikizo)
