History of Agano ware

[ History of Agano ware ]

Invited by Hideyoshi Toyotomi for the Bunroku-Keicho War, Sonkai was a potter of the Joseon Dynasty who was naturalized under Lord Kiyomasa Kato.
Among the Saigoku daimyo, he had a deep knowledge of the tea ceremony, and was taught directly by Sen no Rikyu, mastering the secrets of ``Chazen Ichimi''.
Hosokawa Tadaoki (Misai), the lord of the Kokura Domain in Buzen. The encounter between these two was the first step in the 400-year history of Aganoyaki.
In 1602, Hosokawa Tadaoki invited Sonkai to build a kiln in Ueno, which is blessed with pottery clay and water.
Sonkai changed his name to Ueno Kizo Takakuni after the name of the place, and under the guidance of Tadaoki Hosokawa,
For 30 years, he continued to present the elegant tea bowls that Sansai liked.

[One of the seven kilns in Kamienshu]

In the Tokugawa period, Kobori Enshu, a great tea master who served as a tea ceremony instructor in the Tokugawa family, wanted to make tea utensils.
We have selected seven potteries nationwide.
This is the Enshu Seven Kilns. Among them, Agano ware, which has a unique warmth, is said to have been highly favored by the tea ceremony masters of the time.

Shidoro ware (Totomi: Enshu)
Zeze ware (Omi)
Asahi ware (Yamashiro)

Akahada-yaki (Yamato)
Kosobe ware (Settsu)
Agano ware (Buzen)
Takatori ware (Chikuzen)

[Kiln flames that continue to burn]

After the Buzen Kokura clan was abolished due to the abolition of feudal domains and the establishment of prefectures in the Meiji period, Agano ware seemed to have ceased for a period of time, but in 1902 it was revived with assistance from the Tagawa county.
Agano ware has changed its flavor according to the background of the times, and still retains its dignified and sophisticated form.
In 1983, it was designated as a national traditional craft.
In the 400 years of tradition and history, it incorporates modern sensibilities and exhibits many characteristics in sophisticated and elegant works.