Refers to the style of stoneware found in several villages in the Shigaraki valley in Southern Shiga prefecture, manufactured from the Kamakura period (1185-1333) to the present. Early productions were mainly vessels for domestic use such as narrow-mouthed jars and mortar bowls. In 1632, Shigaraki ware became the official ware for tea storage vessels for the Tokugawa Shogunate. Since the 19th century, production has shifted to various wares such as planters, braziers and sake jugs. Typically, the style is characterized by reddish brown and coarse grained wares, with white specks of feldspar or quartz that melt during firing and protrude from the surface.