Tsuboya Pottery District

Naha's Tsuboya district has been a center for Okinawan pottery since the era of the Ryukyu Kingdom, and many pottery workshops are still concentrated in the area today. The Tsuboya Pottery Museum illustrates the history and the techniques of Tsuboya pottery.

Dozens of workshops are still operating after being passed down through generations. Two forms of pottery are produced here; Arayachi, which is unglazed pottery, and Joyachi, which is glazed pottery.

Arayachi was typically used for large storage vessels for awamori, water, or bean paste. Some smaller items were created for measuring devices. Joyachi is more colorful, and usually made into vases, teapots, bowls, plates, and flasks for carrying awamori.

This entire district flourished many years ago because of the Ryukyuan Empire’s increased trading with China and Southeast Asia. Then after WWII there was a shortage of necessary items for everyday life, so Tsuboya District produced many needed items.

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