Explore Japanese Ceramics

Testimonials

admin — Sat, 05 May 2012 06:10:27 +0000

On this page, you will see fresh comments from our customers, who have already attended our tour.

Customer: American/Female
Program: 30-day pottery making in Seto
Duration: 2012/2/16-2012/3/18 (29 nights 30 days)
Message: I stayed in Seto for the one-month workshop at Kitagama Kasen. It was an awesome experience. I have my BFA degree in ceramics and I been to a couple international residencies…

>> See more details

Testimonial #9

Customer: Israeli/Female
Program: 30-day pottery making in Tokoname
Duration: 2011/9/12-2011/10/12 (30 nights 31 days)
Message: I want to express my deep gratitude to you as my organizer. I took one month class in Tokoname and I experienced a lot. It was an intense process for me…

>> See more details

Testimonial #8

Customer: French/Female
Program: 30-day pottery making in Arita
Duration: 2011/8/15-2011/9/13 (29 nights 30 days)
Message:My stay at Arita has been a great experience. I learned so much and shared so much. It was a very rich human experience. I am going to learn Japanese in Paris and come back one of these days…

>> See more details

Testimonial #7

Customer: American/Female
Program: Special arrangement in Mashiko
Duration: 2011/8/30 (1day)
Message: My friend and I had a great day in Mashiko. She was very excited about meeting the famous potter and having a private tour of The Mashiko Reference Collection.
He even gave her a nice vase so she will always remember her birthday…

>> See more details

Testimonial #6

Customer: Slovenian/Female
Program: 30-day pottery making in Tajimi
Duration: 2011/2/10-2011/3/11 (29 nights 30 days)
Message:I looked for an appropriate way of finding out the insight into the Japanese way of understanidg the ceramics. I simply wanted to see how you do it. I decided for master Ogisou because he is practicing Shino and Oribe…

>> See more details

Testimonial #5

Customer: German/Male/30 German/Female/25 German/Female/30 American/Female/36
Destination: Mino
Duration: 2009/7/25-2009/7/27 (2 nights 3 days)
Message:Whether you are an amateur or a long term pottery professional: explorejapaneseceramics is definitely a fantastic way to get the information you need. The trip to Mino was probably the best I ever had in Japan…

>> See more details

Testimonial #4

Customer: German/Male/28 German/Female/27
Destination: Mino
Duration: 2009/7/24-2009/7/26
Message:Very interesting tour including various activities. Without a tour guide, it would be not possible to find these places. The staff of the tour was very helpful and friendly…

>> See more details

Testimonial #3

Customer: American/Male/24 Canadian/Female/25
Destination: Mashiko
Duration: 2009/7/18-2009/7/20 (2 nights 3 days)
Message:Japanese pottery doesn’t get any more real than this, and we will be certain to suggest own experience to anyone interested in learning about this art…

>> See more details

Testimonial #2

Customer: Belgian/Female/34 Danish/Male/32 Russian/Female/38
Destination: Mino
Duration: 2009/7/10-2009/7/12 (2 nights 3 days)
Message:We left Tokyo Friday evening around 7PM for Mino. It took less than 3 hours to get away from the busy city and enjoy a different pace of life…

>> See more details

Testimonial #1

Customer: Canadian/male/38
Destination: Mashiko
Duration: 2009/6/26-2009/6/28 (2 nights 3 days)
Message:Thanks for your efforts in making a very memorable experience for my family and me. The tour itinerary was really enjoyable and good…

>> See more details

Testimonial #10

admin — Thu, 05 Apr 2012 05:31:18 +0000

Customer: America/Female
Program: 30-day pottery making in Seto
Duration: 2012/2/16-2012/3/18

Message from our customer:
I stayed in Seto for the one-month workshop at Kitagama Kasen.
It was an awesome experience. I have my BFA degree in ceramics and I been to a couple international residencies. What made this experience special was that I was immersed into the studio practices of a Japanese pottery studio.I was able to see how they conducted themselves and how they made their products. It gave me the opportunity to really get a better understanding of Japanese culture.

The Kato family was very warm and welcoming. I felt like one of the family. It was nice sharing meals and tea breaks with them because it gave me a chance to really get to know them and ask questions.I would recommend this program to ceramic artist as well as novices. An experienced ceramic artist could think of it as a residency at a private ceramic studio.
You get the cultural experience and the ceramic time. A person with less ceramic experience would possibly get even more out of the stay because Kato-sensei and his assistants are very good instructors. People come quite often to take small ceramic classes.
I was impressed what they were able to help people make in just a few hours.I would recommend this stay to anyone wanting to visit Japan for an extended period of time that wants a unique experience involving clay.

Special Thanks to M.G.

Testimonial #9

admin — Tue, 08 Nov 2011 04:17:54 +0000

Customer: Israel/Female
Program: 30-day pottery making in Tokoname
Duration: 2011/9/12-2011/10/12

Message from our customer:
I want to express my deep gratitude to you as my organizer. I took one month class in Tokoname and I experienced a lot. It was an intense process for me.
I do hope to come back next year.
Thank you!

Special Thanks to Z.D.

Testimonial #8

admin — Sun, 16 Oct 2011 00:53:12 +0000

Customer: Fraench/Female
Program: 30-day pottery making in Arita
Duration: 2011/8/15-2011/9/13

Message from our customer:
My stay at Arita has been a great experience.

I learned so much and shared so much. It was a very rich human experience. I am going to learn Japanese in Paris and come back one of these days.

English speaking was very convenient and quite enjoyable (thank you so much) but I feel like speaking Japanese with Japanese !!

Norito-san helped me to work in the Japanese way and taught me how to decorate ceramics. He was a good teacher and I hope I was a good student.
I will practice here in my own workshop/studio and will show him my works as soon as they are kind of correct.

I loved the place : this town surrounded by woods and the persons I met and who made my stay unforgetable. If you ever come to Paris, my friends, please come to see me. All my best to Explore Japanese Ceramics and congratulations for the great job you do !

Au revoir ….

Special Thanks to M.L.C.

Experience Japan Pottery Making Tour with Bruce McWhinney

admin — Tue, 20 Sep 2011 13:51:46 +0000

Highlight:

Japan has long history of ceramics with pottery towns existing nationwide with variety of glaze, highly honed techniques and cross fertilization with other Japanese traditional cultures such as tea ceremony, flower arrangements and food.

This tour is designed for participants to experience the full pottery making process in 11 days. Highlight of this tour is that you not only form clay using hand building techniques or potter’s wheel but you will also experience trimming and glazing, something that is not offered in general tours.

Advanced program is also offered for those who would like to learn directly from English speaking potter about clay or old established glazes.

Tour is concluded with a farewell dinner where you will eat from your very own handmade ware.

How can we make a piece in 10 days?
Well it isn’t “RAKU”. Pottery studios used for this tour are also generally the kiln manufacturers and therefore, is equipped with microwave kiln and/or gas and electricity hybrid kiln. By utilising these high technology kilns, drying time is significantly shortened and we are able to complete firing in 10 days. This tour showcases Japanese traditional culture which is ceramics but also another face of Japan which is its advanced technology.

Joining this tour:
On this tour, Bruce McWhinney, will be joining this tour as a teaching consultant for not only during ceramic workshops but also to share his valuable knowledge of art and pottery.
Bruce is a practicing ceramic artist and Head of Department at a major Art College in Sydney with over 30 years of professional experience.
His work is in private and public collections including; Shepparton Art Museum, Campbelltown Art Gallery, Manly Art Gallery Museum, and the collection of the curator of the Smithsonian Museum in Washington USA, private collections.

>> more details (jump to travel agency’s website)

Testimonial #7

admin — Fri, 16 Sep 2011 01:31:04 +0000

Customer: American/Female
Program: Special arrangement in Mashiko
Duration: 2011/8/30

Message from our customer:
My friend and I had a great day in Mashiko.

She was very excited about meeting the famous potter and having a private tour of The Mashiko Reference Collection.
He even gave her a nice vase so she will always remember her birthday!

Our guide was well prepared and made sure we got everywhere on time.
She also introduced us to one of Shoji Hamada’s last apprentices.

Thanks again for all your help in arranging this wonderful surprise!

Special Thanks to J.E.

Sorry

admin — Sat, 25 Jun 2011 09:23:42 +0000

We don’t have information about the competition that you can apply from overseas at the moment.

Testimonial #6

admin — Sun, 22 May 2011 11:37:19 +0000

Customer: Slovenian/Female
Program: 30-day pottery making in Tajimi
Duration: 2011/2/10-2011/3/11

Message from our customer:
I looked for an appropriate way of finding out the insight into the Japanese way of understanidg the ceramics.
I simply wanted to see how you do it.
I decided for master Ogisou because he is practicing Shino and Oribe techniques that I was interested in.The most fascinating for me was the the Japanese way of inspiring and educating of the youngest population to respect and appreciate this part of your rich cultural herritage.

I was very lucky to attend also the Anagama firing and all that makes a part of this extraordinary event including meeting very interesting people.
The linguistic barrier was not an obstacle at all.
In a way it forced me to understand you even more.
Among many pleasant surprises was the Japanese hospitality and omnipresent modesty and willingnes to share your knowledge and affection towads the ceramics.

Again, I must express my gratitude to master Ogisu to show me so many museums and galleries. As I attended the course in the winter and I was the only participant, I was lucky to taste the home made meals prepared by master Ogiso, and this also made my staying in Japan something special.

I’m sure I will come back again.

Special Thanks to I.K

Ash Tray

admin — Tue, 18 May 2010 09:26:00 +0000

Hai Zara
(灰皿)

Garden Bowl

admin — Tue, 18 May 2010 09:24:41 +0000

Suiren Bachi
(睡蓮鉢)