Britannica Sources used in this answer

Why is Japanese pottery considered among the world’s oldest pottery traditions?

Created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

The Great Wave off Kanagawa by Katsushika Hokusai shows a towering blue wave threatening boats, with Mount Fuji visible in the background. — Japanese art *The Breaking Wave off Kanagawa*, woodblock colour print by Hokusai, from the series *Thirty-six Views of Mount Fuji*, 1826–33.

Japanese pottery is considered among the world’s oldest traditions due to the emergence of Jōmon ware, which dates back to approximately 10,500 BCE.123

This Neolithic pottery, named for the "cord pattern" (jōmon) impressions used to decorate the vessels, was produced by the Jōmon culture long before the introduction of the potter’s wheel. Because the wheel was unknown, these early artisans relied on manual techniques, specifically the coiling method, where clay was prepared in rope-like shapes and spiraled upward to form vessels. These items were then baked in open fires.14

While early production was primarily limited to functional storage jars and deep containers, the tradition evolved over millennia to include more varied styles, such as clay figurines known as dogū. This ancient practice established a foundational legacy for Japanese ceramic arts, which would later be profoundly influenced by the tea ceremony and the aesthetic appreciation of natural, uncontrived forms.1423