In this paper, we took up the Nagoya region, which was the largest producer of Japanese export ceramics, and examined the continuity and disconnection of corporate activities from the prewar through the postwar. As a result of the analysis, it was found that the postwar Nagoya ceramics industry inherited some of the achievements that were realized before the war.

For example, the technological foundations of the companies that drove the development of the postwar production area were generally formed in the prewar period. In addition, foreign buyers, who became important trading partners of Nagoya’s ceramics traders when trade resumed after the war, had deep ties with the Nagoya industry even before the war.

Of course, all the factors behind the development of the postwar production area cannot be attributed to the prewar achievements. The harsh conditions during the war, such as export suspension and damage due to the war, had a great impact on the management of the companies in the production area. In addition, Nihon Toki Co., Ltd. started production of whetstones, which became one of the company’s main products after the war, during the war period when munitions production was carried out.

Furthermore, after the war, subsidies from the government and the transfer of engineers from Nihon Toki to the companies in the production area promoted the development of the export ceramics industry. In short, the postwar export ceramics industry started in response to the changes in the war period while inheriting some of the achievements of the prewar period, and with the addition of new postwar conditions, it achieved a swift recovery.

In 1934, the “Mino Seibu Tojiki Shogyo Kumiai” was established by a wholesaler group in the “Tono district”, which was the center of domestic ceramics production.

When the association was first established, it exerted a function of coordinating with other associations, but it gradually strengthened its inspection, and control functions before and after World War II. Meanwhile, the ceramics industry had three problems. First, due to the fragile product characteristics of ceramics, the quality of ceramics packing also affected the price. Second, it was difficult to adjust supply and demand in the ceramics industry, and planned production and distribution were difficult. Third, sales to retail stores had been delayed due to the customary deposit and margin trading. It can be said that the association’s function led to the solution of these problems.

However, after the war, the association lost its control function in the process of changing its name first to “Gifuken Seibu Tojiki Shogyo Kyodo Kumiai” and further to “Tajimi Tojiki Oroshi Shogyo Kyodo Kumiai”. At the same time, the distribution problems of ceramics became apparent again. But, while these control functions had been lost, the operation of shared facilities that had been maintained before the war and the financial business and the group purchasing sailing business that had been conducted before the war continued.

After all, the association had a great influence on the domestic distribution of ceramics before World War II. After the war, the control function was lost and the influence on the domestic distribution was weakened. However, it can be said that the cooperative function of the associaton was inherited even after the war.

In 1920, the Toyo Toki (existing TOTO Ltd.) introduced to Japan the tunnel kiln developed in Europe in late nineteenth century. Thereafter so-called companies of Morimura origin such as Nippon Toki (existing Noritake Company Limited) and Nippon Gaishi (existing NGK INSULATORS Ltd.) introduced the kilns into the Tokai district with success. In the process of the introduction, people who graduated from Tokyo Higher Technical School, including Magoemon Ezoe, played an active part forming a network. Generally, as for the original tunnel kiln introduced from Europe, the length was grandiose: more than 100 meters. However after the mid-thirties the tunnel kilns established in the factory that Shozo Sone ran in Nagoya and in Dachicho, Gifu prefecture were the length of 20-25 meters, indicating an attempt to start reducing the size.

During the occupation period after World War II, the ceramics officer of the allied general headquarters gave a technical open order to the companies. Thereafter, the financial support of the industrial revival public corporation under instruction of the Ministry of International Trade and Industry in Dachicho and Yokkaichi, Mie prefecture established the tunnel kilns. In this process, they downsized existing tunnel kilns and also spread the technology. Simultaneously, under the influence of a policy at this time, the tunnel kiln spread to the class of craftsmen and engineers who did not obtain a high level of industrial education. The model example that enjoyed the benefits of such industrial policies was Takasago Kogyo in Gifu prefecture run by Kiyoshi Suzuki. At first, Takasago Kogyo supplied tunnel kilns to Gifu and Aichi prefecture while reducing the size of the kilns. Later he became the top maker of the tunnel kiln supplying them all over Japan and to foreign countries. The manufacturers which produced the ceramics including the tile using tunnel kilns were given an opportunity of development.