Kajihara Yasumoto and the New Old Karatsu

The pottery of Kajihara Yasumoto is an homage to the local materials of the Japanese island of Kyushu and the beauty of the potter’s life, art and alchemy. Mr. Kajihara creates with confidence and sensitivity a unique contemporary vision of old Karatsu ware presenting new possibilities in natural material management and expression in stone and glaze. Balancing social issues and sustainability Mr. Kajihara probes the meaning and value of tradition in contemporary life.

For those unfamiliar, Karatsu pottery was highly desired during the Momoyama period within the wabi zen tea ceremony and related kaiseki meal. Karatsu tea ware possess a unique blend of ancient Korean and Japanese traditions indicated in forming and decorating techniques as well as firing style. Unlike most other pottery styles in Japan, Karatsu ware is extremely diverse utilizing varying combinations of glazes and clay bodies. In recent years the pottery style has undergone a revival and increased in popularity with collectors and enthusiasts supporting a new generation of potters eager to expand the tradition.

Born in 1962 Mr. Kajihara is a leader in the new era of Karatsu. Establishing a ten meter kiln in 1995 he has embarked on an over 30 year ceramic material investigation of local clays, and plant and wood ash glazes. Mr. Kajihara often utilizes a throwing body that is essentially clay free, shaping his tea bowls and sake ware from local weathered sandstones that is raw glazed and single fired. His anagama kiln is fast fired for one day in a