The Birthplace of Japanese Porcelain
Arita, a small town in Saga Prefecture on the island of Kyushu, holds a singular place in the history of ceramics: it is where Japan's first true porcelain was produced, and where several of the world's most admired ceramic styles originated. For over four centuries, the hills around Arita have been mined for kaolin clay, and its kilns have produced work that changed the course of global ceramic history.
The town itself is compact, almost entirely devoted to ceramics. Porcelain warehouses, studio galleries, and the smoke of active kilns line the streets. Every year in Golden Week, Arita hosts one of Japan's largest pottery markets, drawing collectors and enthusiasts from across the country.
The Three Great Styles of Arita
Although all produced in and around Arita, three distinct styles emerged with their own aesthetic identities, production methods, and historical contexts:
1. Ko-Imari (Old Imari)
The original Arita export style, named for the port of Imari through which it was shipped to Europe and beyond. Ko-Imari is characterised by its rich palette of underglaze blue, iron red, and gold, often with dense floral and figural decoration covering most of the surface. It was produced in large quantities from the mid-17th century and was hugely fashionable in Europe, inspiring Meissen, Delft, and other European manufacturers to imitate it.
Ko-Imari tends to be visually bold — almost maximalist by Japanese standards — with a European market's taste reflected in its elaborate compositions.
2. Kakiemon
Developed by the Sakaida family (who took the name Kakiemon), this style stands in deliberate contrast to Imari's density. Kakiemon ware is celebrated for its milky white porcelain body (nigoshide) and its restrained, asymmetrical decoration — a spray of flowers, a bird on a branch — set against large areas of pure white. The palette is soft: iron red, turquoise, yellow, and a muted blue.
Kakiemon was the most admired Japanese porcelain in 18th-century Europe. Augustus the Strong of Saxony collected it obsessively, and Meissen's painters copied its motifs directly. The "flying squirrel" and "quail and millet" patterns remain immediately recognisable to collectors today.
3. Nabeshima
Unlike Ko-Imari and Kakiemon, Nabeshima ware was never sold commercially. It was produced exclusively for the use of the Nabeshima clan (the lords of the Saga domain) and as gifts to the Shogunate. This means production was controlled to an extraordinary standard — only flawless pieces were accepted.
Nabeshima ware is technically the most accomplished of the three: perfectly thrown forms, precisely controlled cobalt blue underglaze, and overglaze enamels of exceptional refinement. Characteristic designs include geometric patterns on the foot ring and bold, graphic botanical compositions on the surface. Surviving antique Nabeshima pieces are among the most valuable Japanese ceramics at auction.
Identifying Arita Ware
| Style | Palette | Decoration Density | Body Character |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ko-Imari | Blue, red, gold | Dense, layered | White, sometimes greyish |
| Kakiemon | Soft red, turquoise, yellow | Sparse, asymmetrical | Milky white (nigoshide) |
| Nabeshima | Blue underglaze, polychrome | Graphic, precise | Brilliant white, flawless |
Arita Porcelain Today
Contemporary Arita producers range from centuries-old family kilns working in traditional styles to avant-garde studios experimenting with form and finish. In 2016, the town celebrated its 400th anniversary of porcelain production with a major collaborative project inviting international designers to work with traditional Arita kilns — the resulting "Arita 2016" collection brought global design attention back to this ancient ceramic centre.
For collectors and tableware enthusiasts, Arita remains the essential starting point. Whether you are drawn to the exuberant decoration of Old Imari, the quiet elegance of Kakiemon, or the precision of Nabeshima, you are engaging with a tradition that shaped not only Japanese ceramics but the history of porcelain worldwide.