Journal

It was early February when I received an email from Steve at Nalata Nalata. The email was about the following; about 3.5 years ago, Steve and his wife Angy were chatting with Koizumi-san over coffee in NYC…

The Reclaimed Blue project, which started in 2011, is now in its 12th year. We have been making and handing out our standard works, like the men-choko for more than 20 years…

A lively, outgoing and naturally energetic woman who laughs cheerfully. A tender-hearted dog lover. A mentor who listens to my pointless talking carefully and gives me thoughtful advice. Likewise an honest interviewee who answers the…

Although this recap of the Gold Chawans exhibition we had earlier this year is long overdue, it is one we could not help but publish. As the old adage goes, it’s better late than never – especially when showcasing…

In the great history of tea drinking culture in East Asia spanning 2500 years, there were three noteworthy trends. The first, was the drinking of Hei Cha (Bingcha) tea decoction as medicine…

We wanted to thank everyone who was a part of our Starter Chair exhibition, including all of the makers who showcased and visitors who attended. We had 25 child-sized chairs on display…

We have represented the works of the Iwatas for a while but have waited too long to formally introduce them! Above is Michiko Iwata and Keisuke Iwata – an artist couple who live by the sea…

This was such a special exhibition for us. It was our first public one in almost two years since the pandemic hit. Made even more memorable because it was a celebration of when Ryuji Mitani started…

Stepping into Ryuji Mitani’s studio and home in Matsumoto for the first time was a profound experience for us. After observing an urushi demonstration, we had a chat…