Mino Ware

Mino ware derives its name from "Mino," the historical name for Gifu Prefecture. With a history of approximately 1300 years, Mino ware first appeared in the late Kofun period in the 7th century. It was initially fired in anagama, ancient kilns located in the mountainous Tono region of eastern Gifu Prefecture, producing a type of hard earthenware known as sueki.

The central part of Honshu, which included Mino, was a major center for pottery production. During the Sengoku Period in the 16th century, economic policies enacted by feudal lords, including Oda Nobunaga, the first "Great Unifier" of Japan, led potters from the Seto area (Aichi Prefecture) to relocate to Mino. There, they began using larger kilns called ogama, which were more efficient than the traditional anagama-style kilns.

During the Sengoku period, Mino ware was referred to as "Mino-Momoyama," known for its innovative designs. A distinctive feature of Mino-Momoyama pottery was its rich use of colors through patterns and glazes, achieved using the most advanced techniques of the time.

The styles of Mino ware varied significantly, from Shino, a white-glazed stoneware, to Kizeto, crafted by potters who relocated from the Seto area. Additionally, the Oribe style, with its characteristic green glaze, is named after Furuta Oribe, who was both a samurai warlord and a tea master.

In the Edo period (1603 CE–1868 CE), the production of pottery became more widespread due to the use of the noborigama-style kilns, built in a row on the slopes of mountains. By the late Edo period, the production of porcelain began in Mino, about 200 years after it started in Arita (Saga Prefecture). Mino became a major production area for porcelain in Japan after the Meiji era (1868 CE–1912 CE).

Since the 20th century, Mino ware’s techniques have also been utilized in the research and production of industrial ceramic devices. Consequently, Mino ware is known today as a region that excels in the production of both traditional and contemporary pottery, and is a significant player in the industrial ceramics industry.