Fujimi ware is pottery made in Nagoya City, Aichi Prefecture. It originated in 1879, when the founder, Murase Hachiroemon (Biko, Fuji Sanjin), who was also the feudal retainer of the Owari Domain, established a kiln with his son, Ryokichi, and four other craftsmen.
Fujimi ware was initially made with a type of potter’s clay called Maezu clay, which was produced from Oike (Kikugaike). They specialized in woven-pattern pottery. They made tea utensils and table ware, as well as porcelain items. However, they were struggling because their sales were not increasing.
The fourth-generation head (the son of the second-generation head) looked into imitating tiles made in the UK until he finally succeeded in mass-producing them. They established a factory in Gifu Prefecture, and started Fujimi Tiles, Inc. The company later changed its name to Fujimi Ceramic. They had stayed active until recently, but they went bankrupt in 2006, and the production of Fujimi ware ceased.
