Yakishime Tapped Jar

The Ryuta-gama kiln opened in 1974 in the village of Mirukashi in Karatsu. Kenta Nakazato is a young ceramic artist who works there with his grandfather Takashi and his father Taki.

Kenta Nakazato’s yakishime or unglazed works exhibit the pure texture of the local soil. In addition to the texture of the hard-fired clay, the rim of this “Yakishime Tapped Jar” has a deep reddish color that serendipitously arose during firing in the kiln, and the tapped pattern on the body gives it a comforting feel. Its solid appearance seems to reflect his enthusiasm and confidence in this work.

The ambitious works of this artist, following the path of his own sensibility and happily working on his pottery every day, have a presence that gives us a glimpse of his future.