This is a study of one of the most influential ceramic traditions to emerge from Japan. It details the site of Shigaraki, its valuable wares and the potters who produced them, from their beginnings in the 10th century, to the present day. The farmer-potters of Shigaraki, a rural valley outside the ancient capital of Kyoto, have used distinctive local clays to produce fine wood-fired stoneware for over seven centuries. This study brings together all facets of the valley's fascinating political, economic and artistic history to present a comprehensive