I was raised in the ancient capital of Kyoto, Japan, and grew up surrounded by the many traditional crafts of that city. One day, when I was young, I found a piece of old roof tile lying on the ground. For what reason I don’t know, but it was fascinating to me. Since then I have been interested in clay as a material — its ability to be shaped and fired.

 

  I studied to be a potter in the famous kiln-town of Shigaraki at a time when few women were to be found as apprentices there and then spent a couple years in the Kyoto Laboratory of Traditional Crafts learning many aspects of traditional glazes and clay bodies. After that, I went out on my own, starting my own studio in Kyoto and now one here in Ithaca. But, it’s still clay, simply clay, that fascinates me.

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RESUME