Glazing, Kyoto Ware

Kyoto ware (Kyo-yaki) refers broadly to pottery made in Kyoto. In the past, when Kyoto was the capital of the country, the highest quality in all cultural products was sought. Kyoto ware was one such product. In response to demand, it continues today to change and respond in terms of design and variety.
After the object has been fired unglazed (suyaki) and the first layer of decoration has been applied to the surface, the object is then covered with a glaze. In the final firing the glaze changes to a vitreous substance that that makes the object largely impervious to fluid and increases its strength.