Local News

Ceramics sales during the 2007 by the primary companies in Arita, Saga Prefecture, totaled a record low 7.29 billion yen, down 6.2% from the previous year’s figures. Sales have been falling for 11 straight years and are down 30% from their peak in 1991. Prefecture officials noted that the poor sales are the result of growing numbers of ryokan and hotels using more inexpensive imported utensils. They also cited the downward trend of sales for individual family use, as people are less likely to incorporate Japanese dietary habits into their lifestyles, and the Arita producers have yet to respond with new products.