The Yomitan “Yachimun no Sato” (Potter’s Village) is located in Kina, Yomitan Village, near Zakimi Castle, whose ruins remain from the Ryukyu Kingdom Era.

This colony for artisans was built by the village authorities at Kina, which was the birthplace of Kinaware and one of the oldest kiln sites in Okinawan history. Officials of Yomitan invited well known and active potters from all over okinawa, including Mr. Jiro Kinjo, the only local potter having been designated a Living National Treasure, to set up kilns on land provided by the village.

Mr. Kinjo moved to this new workplace in 1972 from Tsuboya, Naha City because of pollution problems caused by his profession in an urban setting. As a matter of fact, most of the 22 potters working in the Potter’s Village came from Tsuboya, leading many to call their work Yomitan Tsuboyaware.

In 1683, King Sho Tei gathered craftsmen from Misato and Yomitan among other places and established Tsuboya as a center of earthenware manufactoring. This was the start of the history of Tsuboyaware. Tsuboyaware is now nationally famous; its characteristic hardiness is reflected in its simple design and warm colors.