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Karatsu Production Kiln Markings Kamjirushi are the small markings on pots which identify them to a potter or a production kiln. Karatsu ware is made in Karatsu, Saga prefecture. It's well known for its underglaze iron paintings which were influenced by Korean pottery. Some craftsman and almost all independent potters, past and present, have a certain stamp or incision that marks the piece as theirs. Here is a list showing the kamajirushi of some of Karatsu's most popular production kilns and the kiln's name. Note: kama (kiln) is read as gama after the name. KILN NAME POTTER NAME KAMAJIRUSHI Nakazato Tarouemon-gama Nakazato Tarouemon XIII Sangen-gama Nakazato Shigetoshi Kojirou-gama Nishioka Kojuu Nakano-gama Nakano Touchi Ooameya-gama Fukuda Taizan Hiari-gama Tsuruda Toyoki Shiinomine-gama Nakazato Tousen Shouenji-gama Ooishi Shouhou Sashiyama-gama Nishikawa Ikkou Tougen-gama Shimaya Keisuke Miyanotani-gama Kumagawa Yoshimi Aya-gama Nakazato Fumiko Sougen-gama Kojima Yoshiaki Kyouzan-gama Inoue Touya Enichi-gama Masuda Toukei Nakanotsuji-gama Hirayama Kenji Suganotani-gama Masuda Shigenobu Kouetsu-gama Takishita Kouetsu Homura-koubou Ikari Ken Kishidake-gama Sanki-an Tominaga Yuji Oosugisaraya-gama Oohashi Yutaka Sugitani-gama Ichuu-an Natsuaki Ryuichi Hobashira-gama Nakashima Toshifumi Ryuuta-gama Nakazato Takashi Yamase-gama Sajiro-gama Tanaka Sajirou Jinenbou-gama Nakagawa Jinenbou There are whole books devoted to kamajirushi for individual potters such as Kogei Shuppan's Gendai no Tougei East and West and others showing the thousands of marks which have been used throughout the centuries here. A good resource of kamajirushi is essential for any collector or scholar of Japanese pottery. Other Kamajirushi Bizen Kiln Markings Seto Kiln Markings