One of the oldest and most unique types of pottery in the world, Japanese pottery has been continuously made dating back to 10,500 B.C. The pottery can be found in every part of the world and is seen as a coveted piece of art in any home or office.

There are two different methods used in Japanese pottery. The first is using basic steps to create pottery with earth tones made with simple tools and equipment. This method of pottery making is influenced by Zen Buddhism principles and is popularly used in traditional Japanese tea ceremonies.

The second method of Japanese pottery is porcelain with the finished product creating a more refined and decorative piece of artwork that has been ornately fashioned with a variety of colors and designs.

Japanese pottery was first seen in the Jōmon Period, which dates back to 10,000 B.C. The earliest pieces made during this period were simple earthenware bowls dried on an open fire. Later pieces in this period began to show more design and skill, demonstrating the evolution and progression of pottery.

Kilns built into hillsides began to appear in the third century, as well as the pottery wheel, an idea brought to Japan from Korea. As time went on, pottery became more complex. Glazing was first practiced in Japan in the eighth century, although glazing did not become popular until the seventeenth century.

Today, the master Japanese potters are still utilizing methods that have been used for centuries, creating works of art that are very coveted and worth a lot of money.

Earthenware

Stoneware

Influenced by Chinese and Korean traditions, Japanese stoneware pottery first appeared in the sixteenth century. It is made from stoneware clay and fired at a very high temperature.

Porcelain

The most ornate and colorful of Japanese pottery, porcelain, was heavily influenced by its Chinese counterpart and has become the most valued and highly-priced type of Japanese pottery. 

Japanese pottery has made its mark on the world, found in many museums as priceless works of art, as well as master potters throughout eastern and western cultures alike. Different artists such as Bernard Leach and Edmund de Waal from Britain spent time learning the ancient techniques in Japan and cultivating their knowledge into their own artwork.

When Japanese pottery was developing and growing more popular in earlier eras, there was heavy influence from China and the Korean Peninsula, beginning as early as the fourth century. There is also an important influence of Zen Buddhism principles, especially in the Japanese earthenware pottery type.