Hasami Ware: Nagasaki's Everyday Stackable Ceramics

A hillside town in Nagasaki Prefecture has made affordable porcelain for about four centuries, and its simple, modern tableware now has fans worldwide.

Published October 26, 2026 at 8:57 AM JST | By Tokyo Paul

Quick answer: Hasami ware is porcelain made in the town of Hasami in Nagasaki Prefecture, Kyushu, with a history of roughly 400 years. It began as everyday tableware, especially blue-and-white and celadon pieces, and became known in Japan for plain, affordable dishes. Today the name is associated with simple, modern designs, and many contemporary lines are made for easy storage.

Hasami ware is one of the quieter success stories of Japanese ceramics. Many visitors know the nearby name Arita, but fewer realize that a neighboring town in a different prefecture shaped a style of its own, centered on practical dishes that ordinary households could afford. This guide explains where Hasami is, how the tradition began, what the pottery is made from, why the name returned to the spotlight in recent decades and how travelers can enjoy the kilns, festivals and shops.

Where Hasami is and why it matters

Hasami is a small town in Higashisonogi District, Nagasaki Prefecture, on the island of Kyushu. It lies about 20 kilometers from the port city of Sasebo, and according to Wikipedia it is the only landlocked town in the prefecture. The town sits in a basin ringed by hills, and those slopes were ideal for the long climbing kilns that shaped its history.

The town borders Saga Prefecture, where the more famous porcelain town of Arita is located. For many years the two places were closely linked, and that connection explains why Hasami ware was long sold under a different name. Hasami ware is distinct from Arita ware, though the two are often confused.

Today Hasami is a quiet town with a strong pottery identity. It is a rewarding stop for visitors who enjoy craft towns, kiln ruins, small studios and shops selling dishes for everyday use.

A history that began around 1600

The Hasami Ceramics Cooperative traces the start of Hasami ware to the Keicho era, with kilns built in 1599 at three locations in the Muraki area, called Hatanohara, Furuzaraya and Yamanita. The early output was glazed earthenware. After porcelain stone was found locally, production shifted to porcelain, mainly blue-and-white ware called sometsuke, along with celadon, a soft green-glazed ware.

The area became a specialty of the Omura Domain, the local feudal territory. According to the cooperative, the domain ran an office called Sarayama from 1665 to 1873 to support production. By the late Edo period, Hasami was Japan's largest producer of blue-and-white porcelain.

Large multi-chambered climbing kilns, which are built up a slope so that heat rises through connected rooms, allowed potters to fire many pieces at once. Remains of these kilns are still found around the town, and Wikipedia notes that the Hizen Hasami Pottery Kiln Sites were designated a National Historic Site.

Kurawanka bowls and Konpura bottles

Two types of Edo period ware tell the story of Hasami's everyday spirit. Kurawanka bowls were thick, durable and plainly decorated, and they were sold cheaply to ordinary people. The cooperative explains that the name comes from the call of vendors on the Yodo River, who shouted offers of rice cakes and sake. Their low price challenged the idea that porcelain was a luxury, and other regions imitated them.

Konpura bottles are blue-and-white bottles that resemble sake flasks and were exported through the Dutch trade. They carry Dutch inscriptions for Japanese soy sauce and Japanese sake. According to the cooperative, they were shipped from Dejima in Nagasaki, mostly from about 1650 to the late Meiji period, to Southeast Asia and the Netherlands.

Both items show that Hasami's strength has long been practical, affordable ware that connects daily life with wider trade.

How Hasami ware is made

Hasami porcelain starts with Amakusa porcelain stone, which is crushed into a fine powder. The cooperative says the material shrinks little when fired, has the right stickiness and gives a pure white finish.

Most pieces are shaped with plaster molds. Makers use machine wheels for round items such as bowls and teapots, roller machines that press clay into molds, hand wheels or slip casting, in which liquid clay is poured into a mold. The shaped pieces are dried and given a first firing at about 900 degrees Celsius.

Designs are then painted under the glaze with high-temperature pigments, with cobalt blue called gosu being the classic example. The pieces are dipped in glaze and fired again at about 1,300 degrees Celsius, which forms a smooth, glassy surface and reduces water absorption. Some pieces receive a third firing at about 800 degrees after low-temperature pigments, often red or gold, are painted over the glaze.

From Arita's shadow to its own name

Because the nearest railway station was in Arita, Hasami functioned as a supplier for Arita for many years, and its goods were often sold under the Arita name. This arrangement meant the Hasami name was little known outside the region.

Wikipedia notes that after 2002 the town began promoting Hasami ware again, aiming to revive affordable everyday tableware for modern life. Local producers returned to the old strength of the Edo period, which was making good dishes at good prices. Designers and shops also helped, and the style gained a following for simple, modern shapes.

Today the name appears in department stores, lifestyle shops and tableware stores in Japan and beyond. The cooperative also describes a project called New Wave Hasami, guided by a local artist, which adds art-inspired designs to the tradition.

Stackable design and everyday use

One reason modern Hasami lines are popular is practicality. Many contemporary sets are designed so cups, bowls and plates sit neatly together, which saves cupboard space in small homes. Whether a particular piece stacks depends on the maker and the model, so look at the product description or ask the shop.

Porcelain is generally durable and easy to clean, but dishwasher and microwave suitability vary by product, glaze and decoration. Gold or red overglaze decoration is often more delicate than plain glaze. Always read the maker's instructions before using a piece in a dishwasher or microwave.

The classic look is plain white or blue-and-white, though modern lines include soft colors and matte glazes. Pieces with simple shapes tend to match many table styles.

Visiting Hasami

Hasami has no passenger rail service, according to Wikipedia. The nearest stations are Arita Station in Saga and Kawatana Station in Nagasaki, and the Nishi-Kyushu Expressway has a Hasami-Arita interchange. Check current local transport and car rental options before planning a trip.

The town holds a Spring festival and an Autumn Ceramics Festival, which takes place in October. These events usually bring many stalls and shops together, but dates change, so confirm them on official local sources before you go.

The cooperative also publishes a ceramics tour map and information about kilns and events. Walking among the kiln ruins and studios gives a sense of how the town developed, and small shops let you compare patterns and prices.

Tips for buying and caring for pieces

When shopping, handle a piece if you can. Check the weight, the foot ring and the feel of the glaze, and see whether the lid or cup fits well with the rest of the set. Prices range from inexpensive everyday items to handmade or limited designs, so compare a few shops.

Wash by hand when decoration looks delicate, and avoid sudden temperature changes. Store pieces so that rims do not knock against hard surfaces.

Because Arita and Hasami are neighbors, a trip can combine both. Visiting each shows how a shared history can lead to two different styles, one known for grand export porcelain and the other for relaxed, daily ware.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Where is Hasami ware made?

Hasami ware is made in the town of Hasami in Higashisonogi District, Nagasaki Prefecture, on Kyushu. The town lies about 20 kilometers from Sasebo and is close to Arita in neighboring Saga Prefecture. It has a pottery history of about 400 years, with kiln sites that are now a National Historic Site.

What is the difference between Hasami ware and Arita ware?

Both are porcelain traditions from the same part of Kyushu, but they come from different towns in different prefectures. Hasami is in Nagasaki Prefecture and is known for affordable, everyday blue-and-white and celadon ware. Arita is in Saga Prefecture and is famous for decorated export porcelain. For years Hasami goods were sold under the Arita name.

Is Hasami ware dishwasher and microwave safe?

It depends on the individual product. Porcelain is generally durable, but gold or red overglaze decoration and special glazes can be more delicate. Check the maker's instructions or the shop's product description before using a piece in a dishwasher or microwave, and if in doubt, wash by hand.

Keep Exploring

More guides from Tokyo Paul: Arita and Karatsu: Saga's Porcelain and Pottery Towns, Imari and Arita Porcelain: Saga's Famous Export Ware and Nagasaki: A Harbor City of Cultural Crossroads.