Mino Ware is a name that originates from “Mino”, the old name for Gifu Prefecture. The history of Mino Ware is about 1300 years old which was first fired in the late Kofun period in the 7th century in “Ana-gama” (ancient kilns found in mountainous areas) in the Tono, that eastern region of Gifu Prefecture, making hard earthenware called “Sueki”.

From that time to the present, the central part of Honshu which includes Mino has been the main source of pottery in Japan. During the Sengoku Period in the 16th century, due to the economic policies of the Daimyo (feudal lord), Oda Nobunaga, known as the first “Great Unifier” of Japan, led potters from around Seto (Aichi Prefecture) area moved to Mino and started using the kilns built above-ground called “O-gama”, which were more efficient than Anagama.

At the time of the Sengoku period, Mino Ware was called “Mino-Momoyama”, known of the creative ideas that had never been seen before brought out excellent pieces one after another.

The style of Mino Ware varies from Shino, a white glazed stoneware, to Kizeto made by potters moved from Seto. Also the Oribe style, with its characteristic green glaze, is named after Furuta Oribe, besides being a Samurai warlord and tea master.

In the Edo period (1603-1868), the production of pottery became more widespread due to the use of “Nobori-gama”, which were built in a row of kilns on a slope of the mountain. Then, by late Edo period, the production of porcelain started about 200 years behind Arita (Saga prefecture), meanwhile Mino became also a major production area of porcelain in Japan after Meiji period (1868-1912).

Since the 20th century, Mino Ware’s techniques also have been utilized in the field of research and production of industrial ceramic devices. Consequently, Mino Ware has been known to this day as a pottery region that is both of traditional and contemporary pottery and industry.