[Akatada ware]
One style of Japanese pottery made in Nara city, Nara prefecture. The Akahada ware is one of the traditional crafts of Nara and its kiln is one of the best seven kilns selected by Enshu KOBORI, a famous Japanese Tea master. Basically, Akahada ware is ash glazed pottery and it has traditional drawings called “Narae" on surface.
From ancient times, Mt Akahada in the south-east of Heijokyo contained good quality clay which contains a considerable amount of Red Iron Oxide.
The load of Koriyama domain, Hidenaga TOYOTOMI who was the younger brother of Hideyoshi TOYOTOMI invited skillful potters from Owari Province and established kiln at Mt. Akahada. Later then, Ninsei,a famous potter in Kyoto, guided Akahada ware potters and the kiln developed under the patronage of the Koriyama loads. In the end of Edo period, the great potter Mokuhaku OKUDA created Ninsei-utsushi wares and Akahada ware got to be known all over Japan.

Narae is a drawing based on "the E Ingakyo” which was compiled to pass down the life of Buddha in an accessible way by adding illustrations to "Kako Genzai Ingakyo Sutra," which is a biography of Buddha describing events stretching from his good conduct in his previous life to his spiritual enlightenment in this.
Dolls, houses, scenery of Nara, deers and other patterns were painted between 2 lines with colorful paints such as white pigment,cinnabar,green and gold/silver leaf.
[Shozan Oshio]
A Japanese potter of the Akahada ware kiln in Nara city, Nara prefecture. The name has been succeeded through each generations. The present head is the 4th generation headmaster.
Fourth generation master: Shozan
He was born in 1960 as the oldest son of the 3rd generation Shozan.
After he had graduated the Ceramic Course, Crafts Department, Osaka University of Arts in 1984, he studied techniques and method at Kyoto Prefectural Ceramic Polytechnic School then succeeded his father’s name in 1995.
He has joined many exhibitions since 1983 and held many personal exhibitions all over Japan after his succession.
His Akahada ware works are highly rated not only in Japan but also in other countries.
He was designated as a traditional craftsman by the governor of Nara prefecture in the field of “Akahada ware”.