{"id":81858,"date":"2021-09-08T18:22:49","date_gmt":"2021-09-08T09:22:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/voyapon.com\/?p=81858"},"modified":"2021-09-10T09:51:01","modified_gmt":"2021-09-10T00:51:01","slug":"japanese-handmade-pottery-nakama-workshop","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/voyapon.com\/japanese-handmade-pottery-nakama-workshop\/","title":{"rendered":"Nakama Pottery Workshop: The Science of the Handmade Pottery"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
Handmade pottery is one of the oldest crafts in Japan.<\/strong> It\u2019s a combination of art and tradition that reflects Japanese cultural values through the artisans’ technique, who dedicate their entire lives to the clay.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Ceramics are still a big part of Japanese culture and are used daily. Each region has its own pottery style, with unique and special characteristics. But one of the most popular styles is Okinawan pottery<\/strong>. Okinawa is a prefecture made up of some 160 islands in southern Japan<\/a>, between Kyushu and Taiwan. There, I had the opportunity to visit Nakama Pottery Workshop and Utsuwabito Gallery & Shop<\/a>, established by Isao Nakama<\/strong>, a ceramic artist from Yomitan village. His ceramics are inspired by the unique essence of Okinawa and can be purchased from anywhere in the world through the Voyapon Store<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Isao Nakama welcomes me at Utsuwabito Gallery & Shop<\/strong>, his pottery shop, located in the blessed enclave of Yomitan village with breathtaking views of the sea. Here, besides buying Nakama-san’s pottery, you can also enjoy drinks and homemade cakes<\/strong> facing Okinawa\u2019s turquoise ocean<\/a>. Isao Nakama is a quiet and shy man, but his words flow freely when he talks about pottery, showing his passion for this art.<\/p>\n\n\n\n He began his path in handmade pottery during his second year in high school<\/strong> when he joined the pottery club, where he went on to become its president. “My art teacher saw my pottery and advised me to keep on doing it. He always had confidence in my potential and abilities.” <\/p>\n\n\n\n Graduation came, and while most of his classmates knew what they would do after high school, Nakama-san still didn’t know what he wanted to do in his life. “My art teacher told me I had two options<\/strong>. He had two acquaintances who were into ceramics. One of them owned a Shigaraki-yaki pottery workshop, a type of stoneware pottery made in Shiga Prefecture famous for tanuki<\/em> figures<\/a>. The other person was Jorge Itokazu, a master potter who had his workshop here in Yomitan village.” Nakama-san decided to stay in his hometown and began his apprenticeship at Jorge Itokazu’s side.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\nOkinawan Handmade Pottery: The Path from Apprentice to Master<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Discovering his Calling in Japanese Handmade Pottery<\/h3>\n\n\n\n