Hirotaka Terasawa Shima-no-Mori, lord of Karatsu Castle in Hizen Province (Saga Prefecture), succeeded Hirotaka when Hata Mikawa-no-Mori Yoshikiyo was deprived of his domain by Hideyoshi in 1594. 1602 saw the start of construction of Maizuru Castle, which was completed in 1608 and moved here.
Hirotaka was concerned about the decline of Karatsu-yaki pottery and worked to restore it. He summoned potters who had returned from farming in four scattered regions at the time and treated them favorably, which led to a sudden upsurge in the pottery industry and the resurgence of Karatsu-yaki. (Kyoichi Kanehara)
