The Legacy of the White Mountain: Umeno Masagorō The story of umeno masagorō is inextricably linked to the history of Tobe ware, arguably Japan’s most revered ceramic tradition. Born in 1882 in the serene Tobe City of Ehime Prefecture, Masagorō inherited a profound connection to this ancient craft from his father, who established the Baizan Kiln. The name itself, derived from “Bai Zan,” translates to “white mountain kiln,” a poetic reflection of the kiln's picturesque location nestled amidst the lush, mountainous landscape of Shikoku. This kiln was never merely a production facility; it serv…