A native of Nakanohara, Hizen Arita (Nakanohara, Arita-cho, Nishimatsuura-gun, Saga Prefecture), he started Dutch trade in Nagasaki in 1842 (Tempo 13) with an official license, and his products included those of the Hiawakoba and Kaminankawahara Higuchi kilns. Five or six years later, he is said to have exported a huge amount of goods. Yojiobei was fond of tea ceremony and called himself Kurachuntei. He was also an expert in the study of ancient vessels, and taught the shapes of vessels and designs of painted patterns to a wide range of craftsmen. He also studied and implemented a method of mining glaze produced in Hirado and GotÅ to eliminate the troublesome process of glazing, but was forbidden to use it by the clan on the grounds that it would weaken the base of the ware. His son Sanpo succeeded him as Yozihei.
