Born into the Mikawachi ware lineage of the Hirado Kohsyo Danemon Kiln, Taiyo Nakazato naturally aspired to pursue the path of ceramics, and from a young age was expected to become the next head of the kiln. “When a successor is born, all the relatives celebrate and rejoice. Perhaps because of that environment, I knew from a young age that I wanted to work in this field.”

During his student years, he studied ceramics in Arita, Saga Prefecture, a major production area for porcelain. After graduating from university, he went to the United States to study English. He then traveled to the Netherlands, where he received training at Royal Delft pottery factory. This was an endeavor aimed at accumulating experience in preparation for taking over the family business.

It is important to avoid creating works that are overly rigid in their adherence to tradition and miss the mark. However, when something is made with great care and dedication for someone else, it often results in an attractive product that resonates with users and leads to sales. “I believe that continuing to create while not forgetting this approach will ultimately lead us to the future,” Nakazato said with a smile.