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Arita, in Saga Prefecture, is said to be the first place in Japan where white porcelain was manufactured, at the beginning of the 17th century, and well-known for its intricate and vivid hand-painting craftsmanship.
The main idea behind these ochoko cups is to let the owner experience the precise and skillful designs by sense of touch rather than sight. The base material is made from a newly developed glaze with a matted finish, and a variety of cubic glossy patterns have been hand-drawn on top. They include umekomon plum blossoms, stripes, checkers, and floral patterns, and have been specifically designed to be easily distinguishable by touch alone.
