[Ceramic artist: Yoji Yamada] Between the sky, mountains, earth and fire

Shigaraki in Shiga Prefecture.

It is a well-known pottery town.

In this town, there is a ceramic artist who connects British and Japanese culture.

This time we would like to introduce you to Yamada Yoji.

Yamada's workshop is located in the northern part of Shigaraki Town, at the foot of a mountain past rice fields.

We spoke to him at his workshop/home, surrounded by nature.

The pottery that Yamada creates is called "slipware."

Slipware was popular in 17th century England.

Its distinctive feature is the technique of painting, squeezing, or scraping a slurry ( a liquid mixture containing minerals, etc.) onto the surface of the vessel to create patterns.

The contrast of colors and the rhythm of lines bring the vessel's expression to life.

Yamada became fascinated with slipware in his twenties and has since honed his skills through self-study.

Yamada's works are made up of a base material with various patterns drawn on it using slips.

Lines, dots, and grid patterns create a variety of rhythms on the surface of the vessels, as if reflecting the very movements of the artist's hands.

Whether it is a small bean dish or a large flat plate, the pattern naturally follows the shape of the vessel, giving the clay an appearance of being alive.

Works finished by Yakishime have a deep color and texture even without the use of glaze.

Fire, earth, and handwork come together to give each piece its own unique personality.

The subtle changes in the patterns and colors will further change the appearance of the piece as it is used in the user's daily life, and the clay will transform into a vessel that will be loved for a long time.

Even though it was our first time meeting, Yamada-san treated us as we were.

The unpretentious words melt into your heart, and the time flows naturally in a warm atmosphere.

The way he spoke about his philosophy and thoughts without forcing them on anyone made me feel that he had a solid answer.

I even began to think that if I asked a question right now, I might find the answer.

Aoyama Ryokusui is my home.

Yamada's works are created in the midst of the sky, mountains, earth, and fire, just as they are.

They gently relax our bodies, which tend to tense up in our daily lives.

Whenever you pick up Yamada's pottery, you can feel the kindness of nature.