'I grew up surrounded by ceramics. I was born in a small village called Arita in Japan, noted for its fine porcelain. My grandfather had a wholesale shop and traveled around with samples taking orders for ceramic products. When I was eight, my family moved to Kyoto - another place famous for its pottery. As a child my favorite playground was the pottery factory where I was allowed to sit mesmerized, watching the craftsmen throwing.

I also had a close relationship to nature in my childhood. I spent most summers in Arita where my cousins and I got close to plants, trees, insects and animals in my grandfather’s garden. We used to swim in the cold stream and catch beetles in the forest. Kyoto, my second home town, is a basin, and I felt secure in its shelter of mountains. The memory of them motivated me to create my tableware range KUMO. The rims of my cups, bowls and plates resemble the gentle curve and lilt of those Kyoto mountains.

I am interested in generating an interactive experience through my work. My objects are only truly completed and enlivened when being used. I want my tableware to be incomplete and passive so that it embraces its function of welcoming food.

For me, making tableware is like breathing - a simple, natural thing.
I want my work to embody nature and create an experience of it in some small, intimate way. I hope the quietness and simplicity of my tableware allows it to fit into how different people live and inspire pleasurable use.'





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