Around the Bunsei era (1818-), a potter named Sawara Kiku originated Raku-ware-style pottery, in the Edo Mukojima-Hyakkaen using the soil of the Sumida River. It was ceramics making focused on tea bowls, and for the motif, used an oystercatcher as the bowl’s design and shape of incense containers.
In addition, because Sawara Kiku had close friendships with leading cultural figures of the time like Kyoto’s Ogata Shuhei, Sakai Hoitsu, and Tani Buncho, Sumidagawa ware became popular as a specialty of Edo and continued until the fourth generation. Second generation Kiku was produced as a gift for the succession of the thirteenth Tokugawa, Iesada .
Nearby, there was Imado-ware which centered around Shirai Hanshichi.
Also, it is distinguished from the Sumida-ware started in the same Hashiba by Inoue Ryosai from the Meiji era.
