Kousai Kiln is owned by Umeno Hirohiko, a potter based in Hasami-cho, Nagasaki Prefecture. He trained at a Kiyomizu ware kiln in Kyoto and opened his own kiln in Mt. Nakao in 1991. He produces unique pottery based on handmade and hand-painted techniques.

Combining Shigaraki-style yakishime, or high-fired unglazed ceramics, and traditional somenishiki painting, his unique style is popular for its fusion of stoneware, which is relatively rare for Hasami ware, and the Kyoto-influenced elegance of Kyo ware. The unique motifs of these ceramics, such as depictions of plants like flowers and grapes and animals like cats and rabbits, make it fun to choose from a wide variety of pieces.