The origin of the Arita ware is believed to go back to the Momoyama period (1575-1614) when a naturalized Korean potter, Ri Sampei, discovered clay in the Arita area in northern Kyushu and began producing porcelain. This was the start of porcelain making in Japan. Later, the underglaze blue-decoration (sometsuke) style and Sakaida Kakiemon's aka-e porcelain with polychrome overglaze enamels were developed. Arita ware was exported widely overseas as Kakiemon and Imari wares. Refined iro-e porcelain with polychrome overglaze painting was also produced as the local specialty of the Nabeshima domain. Even in the Meiji period (1868-1911) the Arita area was the nation's center of porcelain production.

Karatsu ware, like that of Arita, goes back to a group of naturalized Korean potters, and most of its production was for everyday domestic use, with some made for tea ceremony purposes. There are many types of Karatsu ware, including E-karatsu ("picture-Karatsu," with decorations in iron-glaze), the Hakeme ("brush-grain" decoration), Madara-karatsu ("spotted Karatsu"), Chosen-karatsu ("Korean Karatsu"), and Mishima-karatsu.