Sumida Gawa (Sumida River), Pottery

Sumida Gawa (Sumida River) refers primarily to a distinctive style of Japanese art pottery, named for the Tokyo river, featuring applied figures and rich glazes, popular for export in the late 19th/early 20th century, though the term also refers to the river itself, a setting for cultural events like fireworks and Noh plays. This unique ceramic ware, often called "Poo ware," showcases landscapes, people, and animals with vibrant, flowing glazes, created by potters like Ryosai I for Western markets. The Pottery (Sumida Gawa Ware) Origin: Developed around 1890 in the Asakusa pottery district near Tokyo's Sumida River. Style: Characterized by applied, three-dimensional figures (plants, animals, people) on a glazed surface, often with flowing, colorful glazes. Purpose: Intended for export to the West, becoming a popular collectible.