Page:Brinkley - Japan - Volume 8.djvu/359

 among the master-potters. More than a century later, the head of the family was Mori Yosoemon (died about 1775). His son, Mori Goroemon (died about 1810), and his grandsons, Mori Moemon (died about 1860), and Mori Kakuji (died 1853), were distinguished experts. Kakuji was succeeded by his son, Mori Kotarō (died 1882), and the latter's son, Mori Riuzō, now carries on the trade. During the Temmei era (1781-1788), an expert called Kimura Shōhachi distinguished himself by manufacturing saké bottles decorated with designs in coloured slip (blue, red, and white). Kimura Hei-ichiro and Kimura Mitsutaro, descendants of this artist, share with Mori Riuzō the reputation of producing the best modern Bizen ware. Another scion of the Mori family, Mori Hikoichiro, has a factory in the neighbouring district of Mushiakeo. This artist was for some time associated with Makuzu, of Ota (near Yokohama). He stamps his pieces "Mushiake." None of these potters produce anything comparable with the wares of their predecessors. The admirable plastic skill of the latter and their technical methods seem to be beyond the range of the modern Bizen keramist.

A ware of which some specimens bear a close resemblance to the old faience of Seto, while others may easily be mistaken for Bizen-yaki (described above), is the Shidoro-yaki, manufactured in the province of Tōtomi (Enshiu), which now forms part of Shizuoka Prefecture. The first pottery produced in this province is attributed to Gyōgi Bosatsu (eighth century), but there is no authentic record of the