Shiraishi ware is pottery made in the Sarayama area in Miyaki Town (formerly Kitashigeyasu Town), which is located in the eastern part of Saga Prefecture, and is adjacent to Fukuoka Prefecture. While Arita was known as “The Sarayama of West Saga,” Shiraishi was known as “The Sarayama of East Saga” because of the rich tradition they had.
Long ago, Sue ware and roof tiles were produced in the Kishima area, where Kitashigeyasu Town was located. It is believed that Shiraishi ware originated in the Horeki era, when Masuya Kinuemon settled in that area, as suggested by Fukahori Tansaku, and started making pottery.
In 1806, the Shiraishi Nabeshima family secretly summoned Fujisaki Hyakuju, a potter from an official domain kiln in Okawachiyama, Imari City. They had him operate one of the official kilns in the area to further develop it. They mixed Amakusa pottery stone with mud that contained a type of white sand, found all around the area called “Gofuku,” creating white crackleware, which is similar to white porcelain.
At the end of the Edo period, a well-known potter called Usui Soha was invited from Gojo, Kyoto. He added paintings that represented the beauty of nature to the pottery, such as asters, pomegranates, and orchids, creating Kyoto-style Soha ware. This became the archetype of the current Shiraishi ware.
After the Meiji Restoration, the official kiln shut down. They switched from producing porcelain to making pottery. In the beginning of the Showa era, they started producing everyday items. Currently, there are seven or eight potteries that produce Shiraishi ware. They produce popular folk art pottery, and they are drawing attention.
