Tsuboya-Yaki
Tsuboya-yaki is a traditional style of pottery from Okinawa, Japan, specifically from the Tsuboya district of Naha City. It started around 1682, during the time of the Ryukyu Kingdom.
When the Ryukyu government wanted to strengthen local production, they gathered potters from different villages (Yuntan, Chibana, etc.) into one area: Tsuboya. Since then, Tsuboya became the center of Okinawa’s pottery culture.
Two types of Tsuboya-yaki:
Ara-yachi : Unglazed pottery, rough and earthy, used for daily items like water jars and sake jars.
Jou-yachi : Glazed pottery, often colorful and decorated with Okinawan-style designs.
Materials:
Local clay mixed with coral and minerals.
Special glazes often using natural ash or coral lime.
Designs:
Many pieces feature traditional Okinawan motifs: fish, flowers, Shisa (lion-dog guardians),
and ocean waves.
Use:
Everyday ware like plates, cups, jars.
Decorative items like Shisa statues to protect homes.
Modern Tsuboya-yaki
Today,Tsuboya Pottery Street is a popular spot where many workshops and shops preserve and innovate
the Tsuboya-yaki tradition. Artists combine old techniques with modern creativity, so you can find
both very traditional and very modern pieces.