Tozan Shrine

Tozan Shrine in Arita, Saga Prefecture, is closely tied to the origins of Japanese porcelain. The shrine honors Kanagae Sambe'e, the Korean potter credited with discovering pottery stone at Izumiyama in the early 1600s, a find that made Arita ware possible. His memorial, erected in 1917, is the focus of an annual gathering on May 4 during the Arita Ceramics Fair. Several porcelain structures stand within the grounds, including a large torii gate from 1888 and guardian dog statues from the Imaemon kiln. The autumn Arita Okunchi festival features a portable shrine procession and the Sara-odori, a dish dance where two small porcelain plates are clapped together like castanets.