Fujina ware is pottery made in the Fujina area in Tamayu Town, Shimane Prefecture. It is believed that Fujina ware originated in 1750, when Funaki Yojibei Muramasa established a kiln in Fujina.
Later on, in 1780, Tsuchiya Zenshiro Yoshikata (current Uzen kiln) left Rakuzan ware and moved to Fujina as a domain-appointed pottery instructor, and established the first official kiln under the orders of Matsudaira Harusato (Lord Fumai), tea master and feudal lord of the Matsue Domain.
With the start of the Meiji era, the domain stopped supporting the kiln, so they had to become independent as a private kiln. They made everyday items, some of which had a yellow background glaze with colored artwork on top. Others were coated with a blue glaze called “Izumo blue background glaze.” Their business flourished, and they frequently exported their items overseas for a while.
In the Showa era, many kilns shut down due to the global recession. The heads of Fujina ware, Funaki Michitada and Fukuma Takashi, were influenced by the folk art movement of Yanagi Muneyoshi. They were guided by Hamada Shoji, Kawai Kanjiro, and Bernard Leach, and were able to find a way to restore Fujina ware.
