I was born and raised in Yokohama, Japan and have been living in the San Francisco Bay Area since 2001. I met “clay” for the first time in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico in 1992. While taking a short course there, I developed a quiet passion for clay. I reintroduced myself to clay in 2002 in San Francisco and since then clay has become part of my life. I also obtained a BA in Interior Design from San Jose State University.

Philosophy

“What is perfection?”

Machines can make the same thing over and over perfectly, but handmade ceramics are different. Each piece has its own look and texture; a little dent may have a story. I enjoy handmade items because they affect me personally in my everyday life. At the same time, I enjoy being the one who provides such an experience to other people.

Influence

My mother has influenced me to nurture my affinity for ceramics. She collects beautiful Japanese handmade functional pottery and uses them in everyday life. I have traveled to many countries, enjoying food in each place, and this has also inspired me to create functional ceramics. My heroes are Georgia O’Keefe and Gustav Klimt.

Process

I try to utilize the beauty of the natural color of clay, so one approach I use is to think about how I can make a particular type of clay shine. I also approach from the opposite direction, starting by using a particular glaze, then deciding which clay is the best to use. I welcome accidents as they sometimes lead me to surprisingly pleasant results. When accidents do happen, I never swear to my pieces or to myself as my purpose is to enrich the user’s life and make them happy. My journey in the creative process is never ending. If you see my Haniwa Cups, they show they have evolved just like the ancient haniwa sculptures of Japan.