But, Asahi yaki seems to have been highly appreciated since the Momoyama period when tea ceremony had arisen and prospered, and Jirouemon Tosaku OKUMURA, originator of Asahi yaki, was praised by Taiko (father of the Imperial adviser) Hideyoshi TOYOTOMI and then changed the letters of his name from 藤作 (literally, grower of wisteria) to 陶作 (creator of pottery) both of which remain unchanged in pronunciation.
しかし、桃山時代には茶の湯が興隆したため、初代、奥村次郎衛門藤作が太閤豊臣秀吉より絶賛され、陶作と名を改めたというエピソードも残っていることから、当時から朝日焼は高い評判を得ていたことになる。