"The history of Japanese porcelain begins with Arita ware at the start of the Edo period in the early 17th century. By the middle of the 17th century Arita ware was being exported overseas, and this continued until the latter part of the Edo period when, for all intents and purposes, this trade ceased. Towards the Bakumatsu period around the middle of the 19th century, however, Arita ware once again made its way into overseas markets. The person responsible for this resumption in Arita ware exports was Hisatomi Yojibee, a wealthy merchant in the Arita region. In 1841, he restarted trade in Arita ware with the Netherlands and even secured a license from Saga Domain for his Zōshuntei brand, which was tailored to Western tastes, to make it the exclusive Arita ware brand for export from saga Domain. In 1856, Tashiro Monzaemon succeeded Hisatomi Yojibee as the sole licensed exporter of Arita ware, and through his Hichōzan Shinpo brand he sought to expand the range of Arita ware products available. Both of these brands--Zōshuntei and Hichōzan Shinpo--incorporated Western porcelain designs and technology into Arita ware in order to innovate and expand it beyond what it was in the Edo period so that it could succeed on the global market amidst the here competition that had been sparked by the Industrial Revolution. Thanks to their efforts, Arita ware once again became a sought after brand internationally. On the occasion of the 150th anniversary of the Meiji Restoration, this exhibit tells the story of how Arita merchants capitalized on the opening up of Japan to the world from the Bakumatsu period to the Meiji period to lay the foundation for the Arita ware brand that we know today."-- Page 1.
Reintroducing the world to Arita ware: Meiji restoration 150th anniversary exhibition : wealthy merchants and Arita ware from the Bakumatsu period to the Meiji period : the 'Zoshuntei' & 'Hichozan Shinpo' brands
世界へ再び
幕末明治有田の豪商