Yuko Ota Hasami Pottery Molding Division／Nagasaki
Biography
1977 Born in Kyoto
1995 Entered Osaka College of Art, Ceramics Course
1997 Transferred to Kyoto Seika University, Department of Fine Arts, Ceramics Course
2001 Studied under Contemporary Master Craftsman Tatsuo Ichikawa and Traditional Craftsman Chihoko Iwanaga at Saga Ceramic College's Short-Term Training Program in the Painting Course.
2003 Studied under the contemporary master craftsman Shunemon Okukawa at the Short-Term Training Course, Saga Ceramic College, Saga, Japan
2008 Founded Matsubara Kobo with Yoko Okuda in Hasami-cho
2009-2012 Studied under the late Heizo Nakamura, Nagasaki Prefecture's intangible cultural property holder of the rokuro technique, at the Hasami Pottery Successor Training Program
2015 Obtained a first-class ceramics manufacturing technician certification for hand rokuro shaping work
2018 Hasami-yaki Traditional Craftsman, Kurokuro shaping division
2019: Became independent as Atelier Bisque in Hasami-cho, following the closure of Matsubara Kobo.
Profile
What inspired you to get into this work?
I had always been good with my hands and wanted to do something with my hands in the future! I decided to pursue a career in ceramics right away. However, since it was an art school, I could not learn any skills and could not make a living only with ceramics even after graduation. After much consideration, he decided to enter the Saga Prefectural Ceramic College in order to learn pottery once more. There, he began to learn the techniques to become a craftsman and to make a living as a potter for the first time.
He began to learn the techniques to become a craftsman and to make a living from ceramics. This was the second opportunity for him to become a traditional craftsman 17 years later.
What do you want to appeal the most in your work?
The lines are elegant and beautiful, as only the potter's wheel can produce.
What do you keep in mind when creating your work?
I try to create tableware that is suitable for modern eating habits because I want people to actually use it.
In terms of appearance, we have tried to create smooth and beautiful lines that only the potter's wheel can produce.
As for comfort, we try to express the center of gravity, the grip of the handle, and the feel to the mouth, all of which are not found in mass-produced products.
What do you want to achieve from now on? Or how do you want to live?
In addition to improving our techniques
I would like to be involved in the training of successors.
As long as I am physically able to work the rokuro as my master did, I would like to do craftsman's work that will please everyone.
Other free description
My atelier is located in Hasami-cho, Nagasaki, and also has a gallery store.
It is open Monday through Saturday from 13:00 to 17:00, so please visit anytime if you are interested.
You can also visit the atelier during the open hours.