Persimmon is ripe in Ryuta-gama
This page is written monthly
by Harumi Okochi.
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#1 GREETING
 #92
November, 2007


Autumn in Ryuta-gama
A place of Father and Son potters
Between autumn and winter, November is a beautiful season. Crisp air, clear water and a high heaven.
This month I would like to show you Autumn in Ryuta-gama, the kiln of the renowned potter Takashi Nakazato and his son Taki Nakazato. Takashi-sensei is now so busy, making and showing pots in many places all over the world. So Taki sits in the center of the kiln, now 42 years old, with a decent wife and cheerful three boys, some staff and a dog.
I have often mentioned Takashi-sensei in my web pages, so this time I will introduce Taki, who has already been highly esteemed in Japan.
I hope you will enjoy meeting him.

Taki's working desk in the studio
Stove and kettles

Bench on which Taki takes a nap
The round thing is a wheel.
By kicking with his foot, he makes
the round table turn,
on which he shapes the clay.

The show room beyond a brook
Persimmons are waiting for the coffee break

Entrance to Ryuta-gama
Smoke of the firing kiln

This brick kiln Taki made himself last year.
Taki firing kiln. Eldest son Kenta is watching.

Just out of kiln
Shaped, dried in the sun, glazed and fired

Show room
Old dog Toto. As a human age, he is over 100.

Waiting and watching. Imoto, Idou and Taki
Studio

Taki's works
Sake bottle, non glazed

Bowl, non-glazed
Bowl, Mishima-type

Bowl, E-garatsu type
Dish, non-glazed

Exhibition in Yoyokaku gallery
Taki, explaining

Taki's vase with flowers
Entrance to Yoyokaku Gallery

Sake bottles and cups
Vase

Vase, non glazed
Tea ceremony water container

Vase with flowers
Tea ceremony water container


Riding through the harvested rice fields, up the hill, deep into the mountain, you will see the smoke from the chimney of the kiln. You can even smell the heart-warming smell of burning firewoods. The old dog Toto greets you at the entrance. Then you will hear Taki's laughter just like his father Takashi's.
Here is a traditional scene of pottery kiln. Looking around, you will understand what pottery means in Japanese daily life.
Taki is the 14th generation of a potter family. Generation after generation, Japanese culture goes on.

Thank you for your visit to Ryuta-gama.
I hope you will come back to this page next month.


Thank you very much for visiting this page.
I hope you will return next month.
Yours, Harumi Okochi
Proprietress of
Yoyokaku


  Mail to Harumi Okochi