Yashima ware is pottery made in Takamatsu City, Kagawa Prefecture. Their pottery is known for following the style of Gennai ware. The head potter of Yashima ware is always given the name of Mitani Rinso.
The first-generation Rinso was born in 1752 in Mure Village, Kita District. He was adopted by Mitani Keiei from Hiragi Village, Kita District in 1776. Before that, in 1766, he trained in Shido Village under a pottery master. There are two different theories; one says that he became the apprentice of a potter that makes Gennai ware, by the name of Sakaiya Gengo, at that time, and another suggests that he trained under Hiraga Gennai in 1770.
In the Edo period, he made Kochi-style pottery while incorporating the raku-ware techniques in the official kiln of the Takamatsu Domain.
Since then, this style of pottery continued to be made by the “Rinso” for five generations, but the kiln was shut down around 1943.
