Page:Brinkley - Japan - Volume 8.djvu/137

 struggling existence. In the Kyōhō era (1716–1735), however, at the neighbouring factory of Yumi-no-yama porcelain was manufactured. It was distinguished by the term Nankin-yaki, as opposed to Nami-yaki (common ware), the name applied to pottery. The Yumino factory was then under the superintendence of Fuji Magoemon of the Hayashi family (vide supra, "Hayashi family"), who also directed the Odashi works. Magoemon, in conjunction with Mizoguchi, Ichibei, and Takada Tobei, attempted to introduce the manufacture of porcelain at the Odashi kilns. It is recorded that he did not succeed, but the failure was only temporary, since in the year 1804 the Odashi potters were officially directed to produce both porcelain and pottery for the use of the Nabeshima house. Owing to some unascertained reason, the factory subsequently experienced such vicissitudes that it had almost ceased to be a centre of production when, in 1827, Higuchi Chikaharu (vide "Higuchi family") of the Mikawachi factory, Fuji Tsunekata, and others opened a new kiln, the present one, and restored the business to considerable prosperity. Chikaharu, a distinguished expert, was officially appointed potter to the house of Nabeshima. About 1835 retired from business in favour of his younger brother Harutaka, whose reputation was not inferior to that of Chikaharu. Another member of the same family, Higuchi Shinkichi, is also mentioned in conjunction with Harutaka and Tsunetaka as an enterprising and skilled potter. These men rebuilt one of the ruined kilns of the district, and gave it the name of Furu-nobori. In 1873 one of the Odashi potters, Matsuo Kisaburo, became known as a decorative expert. This Kisaburo had been for nineteen years a pupil of Higuchi Harutaka. Subsequently he abandoned the keramic industry and became a merchant. Resuming his original profession in 1869, he found that the wares of Odashi had fallen into great disrepute, owing to the fact that the clay used in the construction of the kilns was incapable of resisting a high temperature. After many experiments he discovered clay suitable for kiln building in the district of Shitayado. He also effected a great economy by mixing with this clay the