The term “karako” refers generically to small Chinese children as they are portrayed in Japanese art. These children, depicted without reference to a specific sex but usually appearing to be boys, have bare heads except for two small tufts of hair. The "karako" pictures of Chinese children at play on the white porcelain of Mikawachi ware have made it famous as traditional form of craft work unique to Sasebo that has been passed down through the ages to the present day for 400 years.

Louis Lawrence, in his book "Hirado, Prince of Porcelain", accurately summed up why this Japanese porcelain is widely regarded as the finest to ever come out of Japan - it is a true world-class ceramic made of the finest clay from Amakusa Island. Hirado is characterized by the extreme smoothness of the clay and its ability to adapt to very unusual shapes because of its malleability and resistance to running in the firing process.

The pride of Sasebo, Mikawachi Pottery has a history that goes back almost 400 years and is designated as Japan's traditional work of art. At the end of the 16th century, the 26th Lord Hirado, Shigenobu Matsuura brought home potters including Koseki from the Korean Peninsula. However, since it was not possible to obtain the soil suitable for white porcelain in Hirado, Koseki and his son Sannojo Imamura traveled in search of the porcelain stone for producing quality porcelain clay, and Mikawachi was the place where they settled down. As luxury items for gifts continued to be produced by Mikawachi Pottery as the Hirado Clan's favorite potter since then, its sophisticated molding and glazing techniques were developed.