[Ceramic artist: Akira Okuda] The hilltop is where pottery is born

Leaving Shigaraki Station behind, you will find yourself walking into the peaceful townscape.

A little away from the hustle and bustle of tourist destinations, this road still exudes a sense of life.

After walking for a while, you will come across a shrine that exudes history.

Within the temple grounds stands a persimmon tree that has lived on this land for a long time, its branches stretching up into the sky.

Passing the tree to the side, we climbed the small hill and a modern building appeared under the open sky.

This is the gallery and studio of ceramic artist Akira Okuda.

Okuda was born in a historic pottery workshop in Shigaraki, and grew up feeling close to earth and fire from an early age.

However, his path as a potter was not decided from the beginning.

After experiencing a different world as a working member of society, he decided to once again face the challenge of "creating."

"The more I do pottery, the more fun it becomes," says Okuda, his words very natural and relaxed.

Okuda is known for being a talkative person, laughing a lot, and organizing the Shigaraki Potters' Market event. He is someone that everyone finds themselves wanting to talk to.

When you open the door, you first sense the atmosphere of a workshop.

The smell of earth, the low whir of the potter's wheel, and well-used tools.

The potter's wheel placed by the window, the spatulas used for carving, and the neatly lined up vessels all bear the traces of having been used with care over a long period of time.

The days that have been spent here seem to become the air that welcomes visitors.

However, the atmosphere changes completely when you step into the gallery attached to the workshop.

In a space that has been carefully designed with white space in mind, vessels in black and white are quietly lined up, absorbing the light and exuding a dignified presence.

The atmosphere was so quiet and tense that I couldn't help but hold my breath.

At first glance, Okuda's pottery appears very quiet.

The subdued colors of black and white were chosen after much careful consideration to beautifully highlight the food.

The linear patterns are not overly bold and naturally draw the eye to the food.

"Too many lines makes it too noisy, and too few makes it less effective. I'm conscious of finding that delicate balance."

Hearing these words, I understood the reason behind the indisputable charm of the vessels.

Upon closer inspection, the glaze fluctuations and subtle changes in the surface overlap, revealing a depth that cannot be explained by mere simplicity.

Although it exudes a dignified sense of tension, it feels surprisingly familiar when you pick it up, and there is ample space left for you to wait for your food.

It's the creator's ideals and the user's freedom.

This vessel was created to gently bridge the gap between these two worlds.

By the time we left the gallery, the vessels were no longer just "things to be exhibited" but had become a scene on someone's dinner table.

The pottery born on this hill finds its way into our daily lives.

It is in this back and forth that the essence of Okuda Akira's craftsmanship lies.

For the sake of bringing a smile to someone's face, Okuda-san is at the potter's wheel again today.