Traditional underglaze and overglaze decorations are applied using transfer techniques. While "transfer" might sound a bit cheap like a simple print, the master plates for Arita ware are layered and printed multiple times to capture even the brushstrokes and shading of hand-painted designs. This is a bona fide traditional technique, and the process of applying these designs to subtly curved vessels is difficult for an amateur, requiring each piece to be hand-applied by a skilled artisan. Beyond their use as tableware, we also recommend displaying them in your entryway or living room ahead of the New Year. With auspicious motifs such as pine and "tako-karakusa" (octopus arabesque) patterns, they also make delightful gifts.