In the 10 years since this column started, much has changed in the worldwide perception of yakimono, Japanese ceramic art. I'm talking about in the contemporary realm, not antiques. The deep and wide world of contemporary Japanese ceramic art is as varied as there are stars in a brilliant winter night sky.
Regional styles, up-and-coming or veteran potters, myriads of forms, tea wares, folk wares, values, fakes and exhibitions, all these things were hardly addressed in English-language books and media, and as a young student back in 1988 I was at a loss. I had no choice but to hound museums, markets, galleries, ateliers and bookstores and learn by myself, with little English assistance. I shunned TV for years and poured over books and magazines (Honoho Geijustsu and later Tohjiro, to name the two best) night after night.
That is one of the main reasons I first approached The Japan Times as a former collector who wanted to share basic information, such as where to see good exhibitions. There is nowhere in the world better than in Japan to enjoy an impressive variety of high-level ceramic art. In Tokyo alone each week there must be more ceramic art exhibits than in New York in a half a year!