Japan has been a famous country in Europe since the late 1600s

Thanks to ceramics
They learned pottery-making techniques from Joseon potters who were taken to Japan during the Imjin War and exported them to Europe
Originally, Chinese ceramics were famous in Europe
However, due to the chaos of the Ming-Qing transition, exports of Chinese ceramics plummeted
It is said that during this period, Japanese ceramics were exported in large quantities to Europe
They reportedly gained popularity among European royalty, nobility, and the upper class
The late 1600s and early 1700s were the golden age of Japanese ceramics
Then, as the chaos in China was resolved and stability returned, Chinese ceramics flooded back in, causing a decline
However, from the mid-1800s, as Japan moved away from isolationism and fully opened its doors, exports to Europe surged again
During this period, Japanese woodblock prints were particularly popular in Europe
These were illustrations printed on the paper used to wrap ceramics
It is said that these prints had a massive influence on the European art world
They influenced painters such as Van Gogh and Monet