It originated in the Manji era (1658-61), when Tokugawa Mitsutomo, the second feudal lord of the Owari domain, built an Oniwa-ware kiln at the Toyama clan’s residence in Edo. Originally the work was called Toyama-ware (戸山焼) or Toyama-ware (外山焼). This kiln was soon abandoned, but years later in 1841, the twelfth feudal lord of the time, Tokugawa Naritaka, invited potters from Seto and Akatsu to revive it, and often had them make imitations of the Seto-style and Raku-ware.
Since clay from Sobokai was ordered, there are works that have ‘Sobokai’ stamped on them as well as ‘Rakurakuen’ and ‘Masaki’ seals, and there are works of Seto porcelain in addition to pottery.
The ‘Masaki’ mark is a work by Iori Masaki, the supreme leader of the kiln.
