Tradition is best served bold
- Eijiro creates earthenware pieces in his family's long-established ceramic workshop
- He mainly uses carbonised firing to make his one-of-a-kind vessels and tableware
- He collaborated with the renowned Singaporean chef André Chan
Eijiro Tokunaga creates earthenware in Arita, the heart of Japan's porcelain production region. He started out by attending a ceramics course at the local technical high school in Arita. "My father advised me to move to Kyoto to study the fundamentals of moulding, so I spent three years at the Saga University of Fine Arts," says Eijiro. After graduating, he worked for three years at a pottery studio in the Higashiyama area of Kyoto, gaining hands-on experience in ceramic art, before enrolling in the Kyoto Potters' Training School for a year. Under he mentorship of Hiroyuki Kitagawa of Yasaburo Kiln, Eijiro found his creative language which still feeds his current approach to pottery today. In 2005, he returned to Arita and began working at his family's studio, Tokko Kiln.
Interview
- Why did you choose to go into ceramics?
- My family has been in the Arita porcelain business since 1865. As a result, the factory became my playground from an early age. When I learned that earthenware similar to Karatsu ware was once produced in Arita, I felt a profound connection to its history. This discovery inspired me to dedicate myself to pottery and return to the roots of traditional earthenware.
- Which technique best allows you to express your creativity?
- I am particularly drawn to the depth created by layering multiple glazes of carbonised firing. In this technique, the vessel is placed in a heat-resistant box and is tightly packed with charcoal, allowing it to have a unique transformation. While honouring traditional techniques, I am constantly exploring new forms of expression in the spirit of learning from the past.
- What inspires your works?
- The rich natural surroundings of my studio and the historic kiln sites used by my predecessors are my greatest sources of inspiration, from the mountains and landscapes of Arita, which have been familiar to me since childhood, to the region's history with ceramics. I am particularly mindful of the textures of rock surfaces shaped by wind and rain, the shifting light and shadows through the seasons and other natural transformations.
- What was a memorable moment in your professional life up to now?
- To celebrate the 400th anniversary of Arita porcelain, renowned Singaporean chef André Chan collaborated with seven Arita ceramic makers to present the DINING OUT ARITA event. I was selected to create a vessel inspired by André's Octaphilosophy, designed to enhance both the beauty and flavour of the dessert served. This experience deepened my understanding of the harmony between food and tableware, which continues to influence my work today.
Eijiro Tokunaga is an expert artisan: he began his career in 2000
Where
Eijiro Tokunaga
