Kotō Yaki refers to the kilns opened as official kilns of the Hikone Domain in Japan during the late Edo period, located along the eastern shore of Lake Biwa. It is celebrated for its high-quality porcelain and meticulous, artistic painting on a pure white body. Styles, based on pigment, include sometsuke (blue underglaze), aka-e (red enamel overglaze), iro-e (polychrome enamel overglazes), seiji (celadon), and kinsai (gold decoration), featuring patterns unique to Kotō Yaki. The patronage of the Ii lords, especially Ii Naosuke, was crucial; he expanded production and invited skilled artisans, but after his 1860 assassination, support dwindled, and production ceased in 1895. Due to its short operating period, Kotō Yaki became known as a "phantom pottery."