Kamachi Ware

In the Edo period, many clans strictly guarded the ceramic industry. The clan's ceramic production was also highly regulated with an orientation towards producing outstanding presents for the shogunate’s family, and gifts for other noble families. Products were prohibited from being sold without permission. As a result, the ceramics improved in quality, and masterpieces from the Edo period became renown throughout Japan. The tradition has continued to this day. The Kyushu Region was especially famous for ceramic production, and masterpieces are still being made there now. A few well-known examples are Satsuma-ceramics from the Shimazu family, Hirado-ceramics from the Matsuura family, Takatori-ceramics from the Kuroda family, and Nabeshima-ceramics from the Nabeshima family. However, after the Meiji Restoration, the head of the Yanagawa clan discontinued the production of Kamachi-ceramics. Thus, it is now referred to as "phantom earthenware."