After the Second Sino-Japanese War, the founder, Matsuyama Gaei (1916–1963) went to mainland China as a pacification officer. He was impressed by Chinese pottery, so he studied it. In 1947, he went back to Japan and opened a kiln in Tominaga, Tatsuno Town, Hyogo Prefecture. He started making Tatsuno ware using clay from Issai Town under the guidance of Kyomizu Rokubei from Kyoto. This was how Kujaku ware originated.
In 1950, he moved the kiln to Kamikajo, and in 1951, he perfected the Yohen Kujaku Tenmoku glaze, creating Kujaku ware.
In 1963, when the founder had a gastrointestinal disease, he passed down the Yohen Kujaku Tenmoku glaze to his wife, Tsutako, before he died.
In 1964, Tsutako succeeded Gaei as the second-generation head of the kiln, and continued making pottery. Her works were so impressive that they were added to the collection of a museum in France. She also held many solo exhibitions.
However, the second-generation head also died in 1994, so her eldest daughter, Kazuko, succeeded the kiln as the third-generation head in 1995. However, the kiln was closed during the third-generation Matsuyama Gaei’s time.
