Lidded jar with dragons, 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.
With Kyoto being the capital city, Kyoto Ware served to satisfy demands from people who appreciated fashionable and refined tastes. The Edo period transitioned to the Meiji period in 1868, resulting in the relocation of the capital to Tokyo together with the Meiji Emperor and many aristocrats, thus depleting Kyoto of powerful people. As a result, not only the ceramic industry, but many other industries also suffered due to the loss of their patrons. In an attempt to compensate for the loss of local clients, the market shifted to the West.