Karatsu-yaki
PotteryKyushu
Price range
¥2,000 ~ ¥150,000
Rustic stoneware pottery from Karatsu, Saga Prefecture. Prized for wabi-sabi aesthetic in tea ceremony. Visit 70+ kilns and pottery workshops.
Karatsu-yaki is a traditional pottery from Saga Prefecture with roots in the late 16th century, strongly influenced by Korean ceramic techniques brought by potters during Toyotomi Hideyoshi's campaigns. Its understated, earthy aesthetics — including e-garatsu (painted Karatsu) and chosen-garatsu (Korean-style Karatsu) — earned deep admiration in tea ceremony circles. The saying "Ichi-Raku, Ni-Hagi, San-Karatsu" ranks it among the top three ceramics for tea.