JAPAN
cluded in the Yamaguchi Prefecture. It takes its name from Hagi, the chief town of the province. There is some uncertainty about the date of its origin, but most accounts agree that the first kiln was not opened before the beginning of the sixteenth century. Not till the close of that century, however, did the Hagi-yaki attract attention. During the expedition to Korea, Mōri Terumoto, lord of Chōshiu, employed as guide a Korean named Rikei, by whom he was accompanied on the return of the troops to Japan. Learning that Rikei was by profession a potter, and being anxious to encourage the keramic industry in his fief, Mōri desired the immigrant to search for suitable clay and select a place for a factory. After a lengthy examination, Rikei reported that good materials were procurable at Matsumoto, in the Abu district. There, accordingly, he was instructed to settle. The hill where potter's earth found, being completely handed over to him, thenceforth received the name of Kanjin-yama (Korean-man's mount), while Rikei himself took the Japanese appellation of Sukehachi, subsequently, however, changing it to Kōraizaemon (Zaiemon of Korea). A Korean faience, known in Japan as Ido-yaki, seems to have served him as a model, for the chief characteristic of his productions was greyish craquelé glaze with clouds of salmon tint. In addition to the earth found at Kanjin-yama, materials were procured from Daito-mura, Mishima-moto-mura, and Ukino-mura. Small utensils for the use of the tea-clubs were principally manufactured. The best specimens were reserved for the lord of the district, whose officers attended at the time of opening a fournée. Kōraizaemon was raised to the rank of shizoku. As will be seen from the genealogy given
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