I've often been asked about my beginnings with Japanese pottery and how I got so deeply interested in the subject. Mostly, it was a philosophical and intuitive introduction that just struck a chord within me, as well as topics associated with Zen and the present. As with most inspiring art, words often interfere, and logic usually fails to help one "get it." In order to give you an insight into how I see it, I'd like to share some excerpts from my book "Yakimono Sanka (Ode to Pottery, Sake Cups and Flasks)" [1995, Kogei Shuppan], which is only available in Japanese as of this writing. I hope to have it out in English next year.

Living with Japanese pottery has opened my eyes to a world of beauty and thought. It has guided my senses and spirit to an understanding of daily living as an opportunity to experience the divine in the routine motions of life. Using Japanese pottery has allowed me to appreciate everyday crafts that, when properly arranged and balanced, enter into the realm of art and into one's life and personality. It has been this way for centuries in Japan and continues into the present.

There are forms of pottery in Japan that have changed little for hundreds of years. Yet there are potters living today who do not make mere academic copies of the ancient masterpieces. They infuse into the flowing tradition an expression of the present age. These are the potters whose pieces I have sought, potters who carry on a dialogue with the masters of centuries past. In this way pottery of eternal beauty is born. And these pieces I can bring into my daily existence, using them in the everyday rituals of life -- eating and drinking. Through the use and appreciation of such pieces, a simple and profound beauty has seeped into my soul.