_JPG.jpg)
I produce my work in the Bizen area of Okayama, Japan, which has long been a center of Bizen-ware production. Here, the pottery is fired for a long time in wood-fired kilns without glaze.
I was actually not interested in ceramics at all until I graduated from university. When I was thinking about work, I began to think that it would be nice if I could make a living by making something. I became interested in firing a kiln with wood and decided to go to Bizen to study ceramics.
It took me 10 years before I was able to set up my own kiln and start my own business.
When I first started out on my own, I thought about making them quickly and in large numbers. I was thinking about effective designs that would not require a lot of time and effort. Gradually, I began to do more and more time-consuming work.
The first step is to sort the clay. Next, the clay is made usable. Shaping is done using the coil building technique. Firing takes about a week in a wood-fired kiln.
To show the expression of the original soil like strata, I think about the design and how it will look when fired. Basically, I think clay is attractive enough on its own. I just help convey that in an easy-to-understand way. I have not studied sculpture in school. I have trained to be a potter.
Even now, when I make a piece, I think about the base, then the foot, then the body, and finally the mouth area. I believe that new things can be created from this process.
I have seen various Japanese folk dances in university. What I learned there was that in order to look bigger, one should not fully extend the joints of the arms, legs, etc., always be aware of the center of the body, and that movement is created by shifting the center of the body. I always keep these things in mind when creating my work.
I like Japanese Jomon-style earthenware and old Chinese bronzes. They give me many inspirations. I would like to work from these old objects to create my form.