NARAOKA YAKI (楢岡焼き)-Ceramics of Akita Prefecture

Naraoka pottery is a lesser known Japanese pottery. It was established in Akita in 1863, and is categorized as Mingei or folk pottery. 

It started with the construction of the Kakuemon Kiln.

 The founder is Seiji Komatsu, in the Meiji period. 

 Several kilns were established one after another in the area, but they

 closed at the end of the Meiji era, leaving only the Kakuemon kiln

remaining.  Seto ware flooded the area causing a down turn in the local production. 

After that, Uichi Komatsu, the second generation, relocated to the current location.  From around this time, it was called Naraoka ware. They fire the climbing kiln 4-5 times a year.

The fifth head of the family is Tetsuro Komatsu.

Some information came from this book on Japanese ceramics for East Japan.