According to the common believe, ASAHIYAKI was established about four hundreds years ago by the first-generation kiln-master Tosaku.

First-generation kiln-master, Tosaku 　    （around 1600）

Second-generation kiln-master, Tosaku 　（- 1670）

Third-generation kiln-master, Tosaku 　　  (- 1695)

Fourth-generation kiln-master, Chobe 　　 (- 1733)

Fifth-generation kiln-master, Chobe 　　   (- 1763)

Sixth-generation kiln-master, Chobe 　　  (- 1786)

Seventh-generation kiln-master, Chobe     (- 1825)

Eighth-generation kiln-master, Chobe      (unknown)

Ninth-generation kiln-master, Chobe         (- 1883)

Tenth-generation kiln-master, Yasube        (unknown)

Eleventh-generation kiln-master, Heijiro 　(- 1902)

Twelfth-generation kiln-master, Shosai      (- 1932)

Thirteenth-generation kiln-master, Kosai   (- 1947)

Fourteenth-generation kiln-master, Hosai  (- 2004)

Fifteenth-generation kiln-master, Hosai    (- 2015)

Sixteenth-generation kiln-master, Hosai    (the present head)


 

 

The history of ASAHIYAKI has four turning points.


1.The birth of ASAHIYAKI

First-generation kiln-master Tosaku made a pottery kiln at the foot of Mt.Asahi.

Feudal lord Kobori Enshu gave Tosaku the kiln name ‘ 朝日 Asahi ’. 

This means that  Asahiyaki got a high position in the potteries.

A tea ceremony “Cha-no-yu”  got popular among court noble and townspeople.

Since 1695, third-generation kiln-master Tosaku created many tea utensils.

Many people liked and bought them.   

 

2.Multilateral management era

Since the Fourth-generation (1733),  he worked  and potte to protect tradition because it was unable to make a living just by pottery. 

They sometimes worked for tea manufacture and ferry-service across the river in Uji.

The seventh-generation Chobe still continued to protect Asahiyaki in the bad situation.

 

 

3.The revival era

 Fortunately the court noble Niwata family patronized ASAHIYAKI.

 Chobe Ⅵ and Ⅸ struggled for revival of ASAHIYAKI.

 They made new style green-tea utensils.

 Asahiyaki did a great business thanks to that.

 It was the biggest transition period in the history of ASAHIYAKI.


4.Severe management era 

During Yasube X to Heijiro Ⅺ, it was very difficult to make many products.

Severe business conditions continued. 

However, in November 1898, the crown prince (later emperor TAISHO) visited the pottery suddenly. He observed the production process of Shosai Ⅻ and bought many products. Thanks to that, Shosai Ⅻ could revive the pottery.The relations with the Imperial Family has continued until today. They always drop in  Asahiyaki when They visit Uji. 

Kosai XⅢ severed the World War Ⅱ, Hosai XⅣ established the pottery again from the damage and Hosai XⅤ and XⅥ succeed to that.

Asashiyaki has been handed down by MATSUBAYASHI family at present.





Brand Manager of ASAHIYAKI
Toshiyuki Matsubayashi