Nippon Tokusei-Japan Special Made

Nippon written right to left indicates pre- WWII 本日. Nippon written left to right indicates post-WWII  日本.

Pre-war

Post war

Pre war

Post war

Pre war

Heritage Mint

Founded 1979~

http://www.heritagemint.com/about-us

Kakiemon

The http://www.tenpyodo.com/artist_kakiemon.html

http://kakiemon.co.jp/history/

11

12

13

14

15

http://kakiemon.co.jp/about/

                                              Lid. Believed to be by Saikaida Kakiemon 12

NIshiura Yaki 西浦焼. NIshiura Enji 西浦圓治 five generations

It is Mino ware from Tajimi, Meiji period.  Production closed in 1911.

http://www.tmja.org.il/eng/Exhibitions/2701/Nishiura-yaki

http://home.h00.itscom.net/shiokawa/japanesenishiura.html

http://bonsaiya.exblog.jp/3879256/

http://www.tajimi-bunka.or.jp/minoyaki_museum/archives/3155

AWAJI / MINPEI YAKI (淡路民平焼)

http://www.tklibby.com/Awaji_Pottery.html

http://www.gotheborg.com/marks/awaji.shtml

Otagiri Mercantile Company OMC

The This company was in business from 1954-1994. It was bought out by Enesco in 1994. Registered in NYC and San Francisco. Recognized by its gold diamond shaped sticker  with OMC.

Otagiri imported wares from many Japanese kilns/companies. Most were marked with an OMC sticker. However some were produced especially for Otagiri and have an incised mark or a transfer mark with Otagiri. These appear to have been made around the mid 1970's to mid 1980's. 

Imports from Japanese Kilns/companies include:

Kozangama (Mino)

  

UPDATE:

SEIZAN GAMA 

***There is uncertainty even among Japanese sites as to the reading. 

From comparison of the bone script characters, I am going with Seizan for this and another similar mark.

*These are similar but not exact. Both appear to be Sei in bone script, although on many Japanese sites the mark on the left uses the Ken reading. 

 Gold Imari (Nagoya)

Meito 明陶

Kutani 九谷

Seihogama 正峰窯

Soma Ware

Tetsusaburo Gama 哲三郎窯 (ARITA)

Touhou

Shibata Toki 柴田陶器 

The Handcrafted Otagiri Original sticker/mark file date Dec 5, 1977~

Incised and transfer marks

Fakes, Forgeries or Reproductions

Though not as common as in Chinese ceramics, there are fake Imari wares made. Some imitations of great potters have also been made. Most of these would be considered reproductions or wares made in the style of an admired potter,  like Ogata Kenzan, Nonomura Ninsei and others. There are, however, a rising number of forgeries being made of Old Imari porcelains and such. Listed below are some links that help explain how to identify the fakes.

http://2nd.geocities.jp/gansakubokumetu/index.html

http://2nd.geocities.jp/gansakubokumetu/index2.htm

http://blogs.yahoo.co.jp/ko0214/folder/689011.html?m=lc&p=1

Kutani 

There are many Kutani reproductions made. Some people may try to pass off reproductions as originals.

Kutani still makes ceramics in the old styles like Yoshidaya. It is called "Yoshidaya Fu". This means in the style of Yoshidaya. Marks are also reproduced.

http://www.mangetsu.co.jp/products/100397.html

One must look at several factors in determining reproductions, age, etc.

Arita Yaki (Decorated in Macau)

Noritake and Nippon ware imitations

http://www.urban.ne.jp/home/nomnom/JONFCrepro.html

FAKE SATSUMA

Chinese imitations of Satsuma are quite common. Some of the marks are very well done. here are examples of the workmanship and accompanying marks. Thanks to my friend SS for providing the pictures.

NABESHIMA YAKI-Ceramics of Okawachi, Imari, Japan

    This has a similar mark to the Okawachi Oniwa Kiln Ichikawa Koshun

Kiln but is slightly different.

大川内の御庭焼　市川光春

鍋島大秀 Nabeshima Ōshu

鍋島　虎仙

Kosen Gama

Seizan 青山

TOBISEIJI 飛青磁

Tobi Seiji 飛青磁, literally means "flying Celadon" in Japanese. It is a style of ceramics that refers to the Chinese Longquan ceramics of  the 13-14th centuries. This style is highly regarded in Japan. It is often found on tea ceremony ceramics, especially from Kyoto. 

Ei-Sei-Sha: Ceramics of Himeji 姫路永世舎 (社)

This mark was a long time coming but am so pleased to finally know its origin.

Ei Sei Sha was established in 1877 (明治十年) in Himeji by Matsumura Tokimasa (松村ときまさ) who was born in 1838 in Hizen Arita Saga Prefecture. 

https://kotobank.jp/word/松村辰昌-1111248

http://nippon-porcelain.com/兵庫県、永世舎の花瓶/

http://www.hijiriya.com/himezi_image2.html

http://www.hijiriya.com/himezi.html

http://blogs.yahoo.co.jp/chnyd092/34812547.html

http://www.hijiriya.com/himezi_zinbutuhyou.html

http://blog.livedoor.jp/momo2011/archives/2012-05.html