Tokoname ware has a characteristic smooth, silk-like texture and glossy, red-brown color. It is produced by firing unglazed, iron-rich clay at high temperatures.

Tokoname ware has a long history going back to the late Heian period (794-1185). At the time, there were several thousand kilns producing various everyday items in mass. During the Kamakura period (1185-1333), production of large, sturdy jugs and urns flourished. From the late Edo period (1603-1868), tokkuri sake bottles and teapots came to be made. It was during this time that the iconic Tokoname Shudei red teapot was born.

From the Meiji period (1868-1912) onwards, modernization led to the production of Tokoname ware clay pipes, building tiles, and other architectural clay items. Nowadays, a wide variety of items are available, from popular tea utensils and tableware, to flower and bonsai pots, as well as bathroom earthenware.