Satsuma Yaki is a renowned ceramic tradition from Kagoshima Prefecture, with origins tracing back to the late 1500s when the Shimazu clan brought skilled Korean potters to Japan. These artisans established kilns, initially producing robust utilitarian wares. Satsuma Yaki evolved into distinct styles: Kuro Satsuma (Black Satsuma), known for its durable, rustic body and dark glazes, and later Shiro Satsuma (White Satsuma), featuring a delicate, pale body with a fine crackle glaze often serving as a canvas for decoration. The most globally recognized style, Export Satsuma, emerged in the late 1800s, characterized by intricate polychrome enamels and gilding. This tradition, spanning rustic simplicity to opulent artistry, remains a National Traditional Craft.