the middle of the Edo period
In the middle of the Edo period, a wealthy merchant from Kuwana, Nunami Rosan, started Banko ware (old Banko) in Obuke village, Asaaki-gun (present-day Komukai, Asahi-machi, Mie-gun). Somewhat later, during the Kanpo period (1741-1744), the Todo clan invited an apprentice of Rozan, Zuiga, to open a kiln in Anto village (near present-day Nagaoka-machi, Tsu City), west of Tsu Castle, and began to produce tea ceremony pottery. The works were called Anto-yaki, after the name of the kiln, and were stamped with the kiln mark “Anto”.
At the time, Zuiga, the founder of Ando ware, was active in both Komukai and Ando village, and among the seven pairs of pottery sake vessels made by Zuiga, designated as Tangible Cultural Properties by the prefecture, that have been handed down at Komukai Shrine in Asahi town.
Hattori Juzaemon (a servant of the Todo clan lord) painted on Zuiga’s pottery, and the works of Anto ware share the same style as Banko ware.
The works of the period also show unique and outstanding techniques, such as the extensive use of flowers and birds as subjects for painting, painting on only part of the unglazed base, and carving patterns.
Under the auspices of the Todo clan, Anto ware, which was produced in the style of Banko ware with unique designs and techniques, became one of the clan’s proudest products, and one of the representative potteries of Ise area at that time. About 100 years later, at the end of the Edo period, Kurata Kyuhachi, a merchant under the orders of the clan, revived Anto ware in earnest, and this trend led to Akogi ware.
