As I was writing the post on Ryukyu glass, I remembered that I hadn’t written about Ryukyu pottery, another trademark handicraft of Okinawa. Several months ago, Katherine and I ventured to the Yomitan Pottery Village, a unique area of pottery workshops located in a historical village on the East China Sea. There are about 45 actively working potters that have workshops and showrooms in the village, a conglomeration of small tile-roofed huts located down a narrow one-lane road. We were able to view the potters at work, both at their wheels and in the kiln shelters, and view their finished products in their shops.
Ryukyu pottery has a long history on the island and its characteristics – simple shapes and natural contours – are traits that display the constant mindfulness of the environment inherent in Okinawan culture. The potters use local clay to create pieces in two styles: arayaki, more traditional and unglazed, and joyaki, finely glazed and decorative. The pottery features bold patterns and painted designs in natural colors – browns, grays, muted blues and greens, and earthy reds. Like the shapes, the patterns also center on natural objects such as fish and plants that are abundant on the island. 
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