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Tokoname is located in Chita Peninsula of the Aichi Prefecture of central Japan and is famous for its natural ash glaze pottery. It was established around the 12th Century and may have begun as early as the 9th Century. Tokoname is the oldest pottery center (in terms of kilns) in Japan. The early years of Tokoname pottery mainly produced earthen vessels for Buddhist ceremonies. With a steady improvement in the people’s economic condition, their culture gradually attained a higher level of development and in the Momoyama period (1573 – 1603) allowed artists to focus on the production of household items reflecting the tastes of the period. Chinese teapot craftsmen Jin Shi Heng was invited to teach his process to Tokoname potters in 1878 when the naked clay teapots from Yixing were fashionable amongst Japanese tea lovers. The naked clay teapot techniques from Yixing greatly influenced the development of Tokoname teapots and today Tokoname wares represent some of the world’s greatest functional teawares. Rishi has selected Yohen (natural ash glaze) and Shudei (red clay) teawares from Tokoname that compliment the art of infusing loose leaf tea.
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