Onta ware

This is done by the usage of traditional water scoops or mills called kara-usu, which rely purely on the flow of the river.

The wooden mills grind the earth into a powder, which is then washed and filtered multiple times to purify the material.

The village has a self-imposed limit on how much earth can be taken from the mountains each year to ensure that there is enough material for future generations to continue production.

[4] The village is a tightly-knit community composed of, as of 2024, ten families of potters going back generations.

Onta ware traditionally consists of utility vessels such as bowls, plates, and tea cups.

Onta ware sake bottle ( tokkuri ), 19th century
Onta slipware bowl
Water scoop or mill ( kara-usu ), used for the preparation of the earth
Video of kara-usu water scoops in Onta, Oita. The sound is one of the protected 100 Soundscapes of Japan .