Japanese Pottery Traditions: A Conversation with Hiroshige Katō of Kasen Pottery
At Tao of Clay, our San Diego pottery studio dedicated to ceramic education, community, and craftsmanship, we believe some of the most meaningful learning happens through cultural exchange. This August, we are honored to welcome Hiroshige Katō, the 12th-generation head of Kasen Pottery (Kitagama Kiln), for a sold-out wheel throwing workshop focused on traditional Japanese pottery techniques.
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Located in Japan's historic Seto-Mino region, Kasen Pottery has been producing ceramics for more than 350 years. The region is home to some of Japan's most celebrated ceramic traditions, including Shino and Oribe ware, styles deeply connected to the Japanese tea ceremony and admired by ceramic artists around the world.
We're honored to welcome Hiroshige Katō and to share a conversation about Japanese ceramics, craftsmanship, and the traditions that continue to shape his work today.
Could you tell us a little bit about your work as the head of Kitagama (Kasen) Kiln?
"Kitagama is located in the Seto-Mino region, in the middle of the Japanese archipelago, and is a pottery studio that has been in operation for over 350 years since the Edo period. We use locally sourced white clay to create tea ceremony utensils, often decorated with Oribe or Shino-style painting."
What Can Students Expect To Learn From Japanese Pottery Techniques?
"I will teach you about the characteristics of tableware and tea utensils that are appropriate for Japanese food culture. Specifically, since chopsticks are used instead of knives and forks, the pottery is designed with the weight and base of the utensil in mind."
Japanese ceramics have long been shaped by everyday use. From tea bowls to serving dishes, form and function are inseparable, reflecting a design philosophy that prioritizes balance, comfort, and ritual. These considerations continue to influence potters and ceramic artists today.
What is something pottery has taught you that applies beyond the studio?
"In Japan, there is a category called MINGEI (folk crafts). This is based on the idea that handmade items that have been used in daily life for a long time are both functional and beautiful. I spend my days working with pottery, and I love the phrase, 'Work is life.'
The Mingei movement celebrates the beauty of functional handmade objects and continues to influence ceramic artists, potters, and makers around the world. Its philosophy aligns closely with the values of craftsmanship and intentional art practices that guide our work at Tao of Clay.
San Diego has it's own 'MINGEI' Museum - Learn More About it Here.
*It often features our very talented ceramicists
What would surprise people about traditional Japanese pottery training?
"Clockwise throwing. The skill of quickly creating identical items using handmade tools off the hump. There is a beauty that arises from speed in both pottery wheel making and painting."
For many ceramicists in the United States, traditional Japanese pottery training offers a different perspective on wheel throwing. The ability to create consistent forms rapidly, while maintaining character and craftsmanship, is a skill developed through years of repetition, observation, and practice.
What first drew you to Shino and Oribe?
"Among traditional Japanese pottery, Shino and Oribe ware began to feature decorative paintings appropriate to the tea ceremony, coinciding with the time when the tea ceremony was born. The hisotry and systems continue to inspire me as I continue to teach them."
Both Shino and Oribe emerged during Japan's Momoyama period and remain among the most influential ceramic traditions in Japanese history. Their expressive surfaces, asymmetry, and connection to tea culture continue to inspire ceramic artists worldwide.
What excites you most about teaching workshops at this point in your career?
"I look forward to meeting new students in person and discussing various perceptions of the aesthetics of Japanese pottery. I also look forward to experiencing the differences in aesthetic sensibilities regarding pottery around the world."
Continuing To Grow Our Ceramics Practice
One of the greatest gifts of ceramics is its ability to connect people across cultures, languages, and generations. At Tao of Clay, our San Diego pottery studio - is committed to creating opportunities for artists, students, and collectors to engage with ceramic traditions from around the world.
We are grateful to artists like Hiroshige Katō who generously share not only techniques, but centuries of accumulated knowledge, history, and perspective.
If you're interested in future pottery classes, ceramic workshops, artist talks, and community events in San Diego, we invite you to follow along as we continue bringing world class ceramic education to Southern California.
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