This tall-necked jar is an example of Sue ware, a type of pottery whose technology was introduced into Japan from Korea at the turn of the 5th century AD. Its liberal covering of natural ash glaze is the chance result of flying ash from the wood fuel settling and melting on the pot surface during firing. Its angularity and sharpness of execution is reminiscent of metalwork, and although no immediate prototype is identifiable, it is likely that imported Chinese bronzes were the formative inspiration.