Page:Brinkley - Japan - Volume 8.djvu/312

 teacher unceremoniously. He waited patiently until a letter, written at his request by the Abbot Tenchū, rendered the necessity for his departure clear to Fukumoto. On his way back Tamikichi called at Arita, and there, for the first time, saw the factories where the celebrated enamelled porcelains were produced. The Mikawachi potters were incomparably skilled in the preparation of pâte and glazes, in the use of the modeller's and engraver's tool, and in the application of blue sous couverte. But they worked very little in vitrifiable enamels. Tamikichi desired earnestly to master this process. He employed a clever ruse to compass his object, but the Arita potters had too much respect for their lives to be incautious. It was only when, paying a farewell and apologetic visit to his first teacher Gensaku, in Amakusa, Tamikichi told the whole story of his labours and subterfuges, that Gensaku, moved to admiration, consented to reveal the secrets of decorative enamelling.

On the 5th of July, 1807, Tamikichi returned to Seto, where he was treated as a hero and handsomely rewarded by the Prince of Owari. In conjunction with his father, Kichizaemon, he built a kiln, and manufactured a choice piece of porcelain which he presented to his Prince. It would appear that in this first essay he used materials brought from Amakusa. The work was so excellent that Tamikichi was officially authorised to assume the patronymic "Kato." It was also ordered that his ware should be distinguished as Some-tsuke-yaki (ware decorated under the glaze), the term Hon-gyo (original industry) being used to designate the pottery manufacture. Kichizaemon and Tamikichi thenceforth called themselves Kagetō and Yasukata, respectively. The memory of