Water jar "Beni kanoko", Shigaraki ware

The late Muromachi period (later part of the 15th century) saw a great turning point: Shigaraki
vessels that had been used as everyday utensils became implements for Tea Ceremony (chanoyū). At this time the uniquely Japanese esthetic of wabicha that found beauty in natural simplicity developed. One of the things the tea masters identified as wabicha utensils were Japanese ceramics. They discovered a beauty in the simplicity of these everyday pots and used them as tea utensils converting them into water jars and flower vases.

Along with Bizen ware, Shigaraki ware was the earliest native pottery to be used in the Tea Ceremony. Records kept at Tea Ceremony gatherings in Nara and Sakai (present day Osaka) note many instances when Shigaraki ceramics were used, particularly as water jars (mizusashi).