Tsuboya is a district in Naha, 0kinawa famed for its collection of potters. Homo sapiens on Okinawa first began using vessels made of earthen materials more than 6,600 years ago.

In 1682, the Ryukyu royal government issued a decree that 0kinawa Honto’s three pottery districts (Wakuta, Takaraguchi, and Chibana) be consolidated to better provide for the demand of the citizenry and of foreign merchants. In addition items such as bowls, pots, and bottles, crafters also produced large numbers of roof tiles (aka-gawara). The royal government named the area Tsuboya (from tsubo, meaning “pot,” and ya, meaning “specialists”) and presided over the administration of its kilns. During this heyday of yachimun (pottery) production, two types of pottery emerged: joyachi (glazed pottery) and arayachi (unglazed pottery).