Imari and Arita Yaki

White porcelain, bright colours

Arita porcelain is known for its beautiful white body, rich painting, and for being practical and strong at the table. Styles range from blue-and-white sometsuke to colourful overglaze enamels, and include the famous Ko-Imari, Kakiemon, Kinrande and Nabeshima styles. It is made in Arita, Imari, Takeo and Ureshino in Saga.

Stone into porcelain

• Porcelain stone is crushed to powder and mixed with water to make clay.
• Pieces are shaped on the wheel or in moulds and bisque-fired at a low temperature.
• Designs are painted under the glaze, then glazed and fired at about 1,300°C.
• For coloured pieces, overglaze enamels are painted on and fired again.

Japan's first porcelain

In the late 16th century, the lord of Saga took part in Toyotomi Hideyoshi's invasions of Korea and brought back Korean potters. One of them, Ri Sampei, found porcelain stone at Izumiyama in Arita, and the porcelain fired there is said to be Japan's first. Because it was shipped from the port of Imari, it was also called Imari ware. In the Edo period, Kakiemon and Ko-Imari pieces charmed Europe and were exported in large numbers through the Dutch trading post.