In 2006, Ouda was selected as an Important Preservation District for Groups of Traditional Buildings, and the town retains its old townscape.
Uda-Matsuyama flourished as the castle town of Uda-Matsuyama Castle and the center of the local economy, and many townhouses were built here to sell special products from the surrounding area such as Uda paper and Yoshino kudzu, as well as medicinal herbs and alcohol. Today, it is still a fun area to stroll around, with long-established drugstores, liquor stores, soy sauce breweries, Japanese confectionery shops, and cafes and restaurants that make use of townhouses.

In a corner of such a nostalgic streetscape, there is a pottery workshop called Hosengama, where the bright yellow noren curtains sway in the wind and give off a quiet atmosphere.
Inside the store, tableware, flower vases, tea utensils, incense vessels, etc. are displayed and sold, with motifs of flowers found in Ouda, Japanese paintings, and images of Kyoto Yuzen.As the warm sunlight shines through, you can enjoy the atmosphere of the good old days. You can feel the space where atmosphere and modern sophistication are in harmony.

As you go to the back, you'll find potter Yugen Sugimoto silently working on his pottery in his workshop.
Mr. Yusei moved to Hawaii in 1967 and experienced pottery for the first time. After graduating from high school (arts and crafts course, ceramics department), he went on to study at the Kyoto Prefectural Ceramics Vocational Training School, honing his skills and making his way around the country. Received the Minister of Labor Award at the Vocational Training School Exhibition. Even after working as a potter, he received numerous awards. ``The appeal of making pottery is the fun of creating three-dimensional objects (vessels) from intangible clay, and the joy of having people use tableware and tea utensils, which are necessities of daily life.'' Yusei's eyes shine gently as he speaks.

A one-of-a-kind piece of pottery made by Yusuke Sugimoto, who painstakingly created it using a variety of techniques, with sketches using original techniques applied to the base material.
Its beauty and originality captivate your heart at first glance, and you can't help but pick it up. Each piece of carefully handcrafted pottery is not only beautiful, but its unique expression and texture will help you escape from the hustle and bustle of everyday life and bring peace of mind. Please come and experience its charm with your own hands.