For the area of Wakayama prefecture sometimes historically romanized as 'Arita', see
Arida, Wakayama.
Arita (有田町, Arita-chō) is a
town located in
Nishimatsuura District,
Saga Prefecture,
Japan. It is known for producing
Arita porcelain, one of the traditional handicrafts of Japan. It also holds the largest ceramic fair in Western Japan, the
Arita Ceramic Fair. This event is held from April 29 to May 5 (
Golden Week) every year and has thousands of stores and stalls lining the six-kilometre long main street.
Arita is located in the western part of
Saga Prefecture, bordering
Nagasaki Prefecture from its southwest to western sides. About 70% of the town is forest and mountains.
Arita was one of the first sites in Japan to produce
porcelain,
Arita ware. The discovery of
porcelain stone is attributed to a
Korean potter named
Kanagae Sambe(Yi Sam-pyeong) who discovered a source of kaolin underneath the Izumiyama mountain in Arita, and began firing the nation’s first porcelain.[1]
April 1, 1889 – The modern
municipal system is established. In accordance with this system the village of Sarayama is renamed and reclassified as the town of Arita. Also at this time the villages of Shin, Magarikawa and Ōyama are formed.
November 13, 1896 – The village of Shin is renamed Arita.
January 1, 1947 – The village of Arita becomes a town and is renamed Higashi-Arita.
April 1, 1954 – Higashi-Arita is incorporated into Arita.
April 1, 1955 – Magarikawa and Ōyama merge to form the village of Nishi-Arita.
January 1, 1956 – Several areas of Nishi-Arita are incorporated into Arita.
April 1, 1965 – Nishi-Arita becomes a town.
March 1, 2006 – Nishi-Arita is incorporated into Arita.
Demography
According to Japanese census data,[1] this is the population of Arita in recent years.
The
Porcelain Park is a ceramic centered theme park, and is modeled on the Zwinger Palace in Germany. Ceramic ware from the heyday of Arita are on display in the gallery.
Arita Kan (有田館) has an exhibition of modern art porcelain, 400 different cups for coffee or tea and a theatre with computerized puppets made of porcelain.
"China On The Park" dates back to the end of the last century when the Fukugawa factory was chosen to provide the Imperial household with porcelain. This large and modern style facility contains a factory, galleries, shops and a restaurant.
Tozan Shrine has a porcelain archway and other items of porcelain which, at other shrines, are usually made of stone. This shrine was and still is particularly revered by Arita's ceramists.
Rokuroza (ろくろ座), located near Kami-Arita Station, is a place where one can learn how to make pottery.
Karatsu ware – Produced in Saga. The most produced pottery in western Japan. Believed to have started in the 16th century. Greatly influenced by Korean potters.