Japan has fine clays for making ceramics, pure water for mixing with the clay, and verdant forests for firewood for the kilns. Pottery, porcelain and stoneware have been made in many parts of the country for centuries, influenced by China and the Korean peninsula but evolving into unique styles. Even today, they are made in vast quantities in all shapes and sizes, from small plates to huge pots. These pages show the living traditions of Japanese ceramics.