Page:Brinkley - Japan - Volume 8.djvu/309

 But the ex-potter, whose name was Kichizaemon, explained that a livelihood was no longer obtainable at Seto: not from choice, but from necessity, he had given up his trade to his eldest son, and had come to the new farms accompanied by his second son, Tamikichi. The governor was still unsatisfied. It was ill, he said, adopting a new profession in mature years. Finally, he offered to become himself Kichizaemon's instructor in the art of porcelain making. The Seto artisan gladly availed himself of this proposal. A kiln was built at the governor's residence, and for several months Kichizaemon worked there. Only a small measure of success was achieved. Coarse household utensils of porcelain were the utmost that could be produced, and even among these the proportion of failures was almost prohibitively large. But the governor and his son Tanesada were indefatigable. They supplied the necessary capital and made arrangements for the prosecution of the industry on an extended scale. The potters of Seto now took alarm. Their head-man, Katō Tozaemon, visited the governor of Atsuta, and being admitted to his sick-room, explained that the results of his project would probably prove fatal to the industries of Seto and the neighbouring villages. The governor did not deny that this forecast might be just, but explained the Atsuta factories were only intended to give employment to potters who were prevented by local regulations from pursuing their trade at Seto. Could this difficulty be overcome, Tozaemon's remonstrance would have more weight. The issue of the interview was that representations were made to the Prince of Owari, and the law restricting the number of potters in each family was repealed.