The Four Gentlemen and the Three Friends of Winter

Common designs used on Japanese pottery and porcelain are the Four Gentlemen and the Three Friends of Winter.

The Four Gentlemen design or "shi kun shi" (四君子), consists of the orchid, plum, bamboo and chrysanthemum.

The Three Friends of Winter design or "sho chiku bai" (松竹梅), consists of pine, bamboo and plum. (See example below)

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. 

Kobori Enshu's Seven Favored Kilns

Kobori Enshu (last name first in Japanese) was a famous tea master, painter, poet, architect, and garden designer. He lived from 1579 to 1647. He was probably most noted for the tea ceremony. He favored seven styles of pottery for the tea ceremony.

Asahi (Kyoto)
Agano (Fukuoka)
Akahada (Nara)
Kosobe (Osaka)
Shidoro (Shizuoka)
Takatori (Fukuoka)
Zeze (Shiga)