Tsuboya ware

Tsuboya ware (壺屋焼, Tsuboya-yaki), also known simply as Yachimun in Okinawan dialect, is a style of Ryukyuan pottery originating in the Tsuboya district of Naha, Okinawa Prefecture, Japan. Dating back to the late 17th century, it is most recognizable by its enamel overglaze designs and strong, utilitarian forms.

History

Tsuboya ware traces its origins to around 1682, when kilns from the communities of Chibana, Wakuta, and Takaraguchi were relocated to Tsuboya under the authority of the Ryukyu Kingdom. To compensate for a decline in imported ceramics, Korean potters were brought in to share their techniques, which became foundational to the craft. In the Meiji era, mass-produced ware briefly overshadowed traditional pottery. However, during the Taisho period, the folk-craft movement brought renewed attention to Tsuboya ware through advocates such as Muneyoshi Yanagi. Notably, in 1985, potter Jirō Kinjō became the first Okinawan recognized as a Living National Treasure, highlighting the cultural importance of the craft.

Types and Characteristics

Tsuboya ware is categorized into two main types:

• Arayachi (荒焼) – an unglazed or lightly glazed form used primarily for practical containers such as water jars and sake bottles.
• Jōyachi (上焼) – a richly decorated style featuring colorful enamel overglazes in reds, whites, and blues.

Local clay, including red-textured shimajiri mahji and white gushitou, is molded by wheel or cast in molds. After forming and drying, a slip coating known as engobing is applied. While the slip is semi-dry, artisans carve patterns before applying enamel overglaze made from natural materials such as coral limestone and rice husk ash. The ware is then fired once in a kiln—traditionally a climbing kiln, now more commonly gas-fired—to attain its characteristic finish.

Production Process

1. Clay is sourced locally, mixed, filtered, and kneaded.
2. Forms are shaped using foot-powered wheels or molds; this includes functional vessels and decorative figurines like shisa.
3. An engobe of white slip is applied, followed by carving when partially dry.
4. Enamel overglazes impart vibrant colors; distinctive red enamel (aka-e) is derived from Okinawan-exclusive local materials.
5. A single firing solidifies form and finish; gas kilns are favored today for environmental and practical reasons.

Cultural Significance

Tsuboya ware has remained the core of Okinawan ceramics since its inception, even as urban scent concerns forced kilns to move to regions like Yomitan and Ogimi. Tsuboya’s narrow streets still host numerous workshops and boutiques, and the Naha Municipal Tsuboya Pottery Museum, established in 1998, preserves the region’s heritage.

The craft produces both everyday utility pieces and ceremonial objects, such as urns and shisa guardian statues, reflecting Okinawa’s fusion of practicality and spiritual tradition. Tsuboya Yachimun Street remains a hub for tourists and collectors, and the work of master potters continues through family lineage and apprenticeships.

Notable Potters

• Jirō Kinjō – First Okinawan Living National Treasure, celebrated for fish and crustacean motifs.
• Kobashigawa Eishō – Revered for rediscovering and popularizing traditional red enamel techniques.
• Aragaki Eisaburō – One of the “Three Potters of Tsuboya” alongside Kinjō and Kobashigawa.

See also

• Ryukyuan pottery
• Japanese craft
• List of Traditional Crafts of Japan

External links

• Naha Municipal Tsuboya Pottery Museum – Naha, Okinawa
• Tsuboya Pottery District information and visitor guide