Otani Yaki, Tokushima Prefecture's representative pottery, boasts over 230 years of history, initially meeting local demand for large, robust utilitarian vessels essential for the indigo dye and fermented product industries. It utilizes iron-rich local clay, resulting in a distinctive coarse texture and subtle metallic sheen, valued for its rustic, earthy aesthetic. A famous production method is the nerokuro (lying-down potter's wheel) for crafting huge pottery, involving one potter shaping while an assistant kicks the wheel from below. The noborigama (climbing kiln) used for these colossal ceramics is reputed to be Japan's largest. Celebrated for its honest, unadorned beauty emphasizing natural clay properties, Otani Yaki continues production today, upholding unique craftsmanship and utilitarian artistry, recognized as a National Traditional Craft in 2003.