Imariyaki Cups Set

Imari was the first region in Japan to produce porcelain production site. It is also known as the "Capital of the Kiln" for producing the highest quality porcelain for the imperial family. However, behind the immense success of Imari lies a series of coincidences. At the end of the 16th century, Toyotomi Hideyoshi returned to Japan after an unsuccessful expedition to Korea, bringing with him a group of captured Korean potters. These potters unexpectedly found the raw materials for making porcelain in the nearby mountains of Imari, paving the way for the rise of the porcelain industry in Japan. International opportunities for trade arose not long after Japan discovered its geological and human potential for producing porcelain. In the 17th century, China imposed isolationist policies restricting maritime trade, including porcelain export. This period coincided with a boom in international porcelain demand, and Japan naturally stepped in to fill the demand.