In Japan it is quite rare to find women woodfire potters, who make their work in a traditional anagama (tunnel kiln) or noborigama (chambered climbing kiln).

The reasons are historical, as women were not allowed to do such work for fear of insulting the kiln gods. This has changed to a degree, but there are still very few women woodfirers, although there has been a large increase in women studio potters, who use either a gas or electric kiln.

In fact, a recent issue of Honoho Geijutsu (The Art of Fire) magazine had a feature on the leading women potters in Japan today, and out of 42, not one is a woodfirer. Forty years ago, the hurdles would have been enormous, especially in male-dominated ceramic towns such as Bizen or Shigaraki. But there is one outstanding female Shigaraki potter and her name is Kiyoko Koyama.