Kumano ware is pottery made in the Kumano Ware Kado Kiln in Kumano Town, Fukuyama City, Hiroshima Prefecture.
Originally, Kumano Town had ruins of old earthenware kilns. So, it seems that the area has had potter’s clay since long ago.
In 1946, Saragai Kazuji (Zenzaemon) from Kumano Town, discovered that this area had potter’s clay, so he built a kiln. He called it Kado ware and produced everyday tea utensils.
In May 1954, ever since the chief priest at Kasuga Taisha, Tadamaro Miyagawa (Fumimaro Konoe’s younger brother), visited the place and made pottery, the name of the kiln changed to Kumano ware. Before that, it was called Kado kiln based on the trade name of Zenzaemon’s family, Kado. It is currently called Kumano Ware Kado Kiln.
