Japanese porcelain also known as Imari The manufacture of earthenware in Japan goes back to the Neolithic Jomon period (from 10,000 to 300 BC). Japanese porcelain was first produced in the early seventh century. Japan’s feudal lords had occupied Korea and brought skilled Korean craftsmen to Japan. They in turn learned how to produce fine porcelain from the Chinese. One of the Korean porcelain makers was Ri Sampei. He is considered the father of Japanese porcelain. In the late 16th century the tea ceremony spread from China to Japan and encouraged the production of porcelain. Our range includes Arita porcelain, which has 400 years of tradition behind it and is Japan’s oldest and most famous type of porcelain.