Karatsu-yaki
PotteryKyushu
National Traditional Craft
Price range
¥2,000 ~ ¥150,000
Tea ceremony ware from Saga with understated, wabi-sabi aesthetic.
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.
Materials
Local clay, straw ash glaze
Techniques
Wheel throwing, brushwork decoration