VOL.213 MARCH 2026
EXPLORING JAPANESE POTTERY Yachimun: A Treasure Born of Okinawa’s Unique Climate and Culture

Shisa guardian lion ornaments are displayed in Okinawan homes as decorative charms against evil.

Yachimun is the Okinawan dialect for pottery. Characterized by its rounded, thick forms and the simple beauty of its vessels and jars, yachimun is popular as souvenirs. In this article, we focus on Tsuboya-yaki (Tsuboya ware), the origin of yachimun culture, and explore its history and appeal.

Tsuboya ware is a pottery that has been cultivated amid Okinawa’s natural setting, history, and the lives of people. According to the Tsuboya Ware Cooperative Association, its history dates back to the Ryukyu Kingdom¹ era. During the 14th to 16th centuries, a period of flourishing trade, much pottery was brought from China and Southeast Asia. Such exchanges then led to the development of a diverse ceramic culture in Okinawa.

“As overseas trade gradually declined, the Satsuma Domain² brought Ryukyu under its control in 1609. Subsequently, King Sho Nei³ and Prince Sashiki (later Sho Ho),⁴ seeking to promote industry, invited potters from the Korean Peninsula via Satsuma, concentrating efforts on introducing and developing pottery-making techniques.”

In 1682, workshops that had been scattered across various locations, including the Chibana Kiln in Okinawa City, the Takaraguchi Kiln in Shuri, and the Wakuta Kiln in Naha City, were brought together in Tsuboya district of Naha City, and a framework for Tsuboya ware production was established under the royal administration. Potters were generously provided with land and kilns and placed under strong protection. As a result, many master craftsmen emerged, and some were reportedly even honored for their achievements and elevated to official’s status. Eventually Tsuboya developed into the Ryukyu Kingdom’s leading pottery production area.

“Tsuboya ware is characterized by a softness and unique character achieved by skipping the bisque firing⁵ stage. It can be broadly categorized into two types: joyachi, where glaze⁶ is applied directly to the clay and fired at approximately 1,200°C, and arayachi, which is fired at relatively low temperatures with no glaze. Joyachi primarily produces everyday tableware like bowls, plates, and jars. This is the main type of modern Tsuboya ware. Arayachi, meanwhile, has been used for large vessels such as sake jugs and water jugs. Both types utilize the properties of high-quality clays found throughout Okinawa, particularly red clay, to create pottery that takes advantage of the powerful strength and warmth inherent to the local clay.”

During Naha City’s post–World War II reconstruction, smoke pollution from wood-fired kilns became a serious problem, and the use of such kilns in Tsuboya was prohibited. This prompted many potters, including Living National Treasure KINJO Jiro,⁷ to relocate to  Yomitan Village, an area that eventually came to be known as Yachimun no Sato (the home or village of yachimun). From Yomitan Village, a fertile ground for traditional crafts blessed with high-quality clay, the techniques and spirit of Tsuboya ware spread throughout the main island of Okinawa and its surrounding islands.

“In addition to everyday vessels such as jars and bowls, Tsuboya ware includes many other types of pottery closely connected to life in Okinawa. These include shisa guardian lions placed on roofs as charms against evil; dachibin, originally portable bottles for sake that are now used as vases for a single flower; and kara-kara, alcohol-pouring vessels designed with a stable structure that keep them from tipping over. These items continue to be used in Okinawan daily life and remain a familiar and important part of the culture and lifestyle today.”

Nurtured in a production environment drawing on a diverse range of decorative techniques and natural island materials, Tsuboya ware continues to be inherited  today as pottery reflecting the Okinawan climate and culture as well as everyday lives of its people.

“The annual Tsuboya Pottery Festival, held in late November, is a large pottery market where local kilns offer their wares at affordable prices. Various events are also held at the festival, including pottery competitions by artisans and pottery wheel experiences. All are invited to come visit and experience the world of yachimun.”

• 1. A kingdom established in 1429 when Sho Hashi unified the main island of Okinawa. It flourished as a sea-based kingdom for approximately 450 years, trading with China, Japan, and Southeast Asian nations, until the current Okinawa Prefecture was established by the Japanese government in 1879.
• 2. The name of an old Japanese province. It corresponds to the western part of present-day Kagoshima Prefecture.
• 3. The 7th king of the Ryukyu Kingdom’s Second Sho dynasty. Reign: 1589 to 1620.
• 4. The 8th king of the Ryukyu Kingdom’s Second Sho dynasty. Reign: 1621 to 1640.
• 5. A process of heating shaped pottery clay at high temperatures in a kiln to harden it.
• 6. A glassy solution applied to the surface of pottery. 
• 7. One of the leading artisans associated with Tsuboya ware who lived from 1912 to 2004. Designated a Living National Treasure (Preserver of Important Intangible Cultural Property) in connection with Ryukyuan pottery in 1985.

By MOROHASHI Kumiko
Photo: PIXTA