Where Japanese porcelain began.
For more than four centuries, Arita has transformed stone, fire and human skill into porcelain of exceptional clarity.
A town shaped by porcelain
Arita, in Japan’s Saga Prefecture, is regarded as the birthplace of Japanese porcelain. In the early seventeenth century, deposits of porcelain stone were identified at Izumiyama, allowing specialist kilns to grow around a material prized for its whiteness and strength.
From nearby Imari, Arita ware travelled beyond Japan and became admired in Europe. Yet its story has never stood still: generations of craftspeople continue to combine inherited knowledge with new forms, colours and ways of living.
- 01
Porcelain stone
Mineral-rich stone is selected and crushed into a fine powder.
- 02
Forming
The prepared porcelain body is shaped with precision by specialist makers.
- 03
Surface
Glazes and decoration give each series its distinctive light, colour and touch.
- 04
Fire & inspection
High-temperature firing completes the material before every piece is carefully checked.
1616 / arita japan
Produced in Arita by Momota Touen, 1616 / arita japan works with local factories and craftspeople while taking a distinctly contemporary approach.
Under the creative direction of Teruhiro Yanagihara, the collection respects the intelligence of the material: light yet durable, quiet in form and designed for daily life across cultures.
Arita porcelain for everyday rituals
Explore the pieces currently available. New products added to the 1616 / Arita Japan collection will appear here automatically.
