SAWA Katsunori (ceramist)

　

Oribe-ware and Shigaraki-ware (Sake vessels). (photo by TOBETOBEKUSA)

　

Shigaraki Town, Kōka City is located in the southern part of Shiga Prefecture, a neighbouring prefecture of Kyoto. Driving along a narrow road barely wide enough for a single small car to pass, we arrive at the atelier of SAWA Katsunori (澤 克典), a much admired potter. On the day of our visit, he was in the process of firing his kiln (*1). Even though he was preparing for a solo exhibition at a Tokyo gallery the following week, he kindly agreed to our interview.
 
SAWA was born into a family of ceramists. While his grandfather was responsible for the mass production of ceramic braziers (火鉢 hibachi) and other household items, his father chose to work as a ceramic artist.
 
SAWA grew up in such an environment, but he did not always want to be a potter. He speaks with a slight hint of bashfulness, but a tone of confirmation:
 
When I was in high school, I went with my father on business and saw Oribe-ware in a permanent exhibition, and I thought, ‘Wow, this is cool! I want to go work for him!’ So I became his apprentice. Until then I thought Shigaraki-ware was the norm, but when I saw something completely different, I knew I wanted to become a ceramist.

　

Oribe-ware as “ひょうきんもの (*hyōkin-mono)”, and Shigaraki-ware as 朴訥 (**bokutotsu)

*hyōkin-mono： NOUN. (POSITIVE meaning) a fun and easygoing person.
**bokutosu：NOUN. (POSITIVE meaning) a plain, honest and straightforward person who uses few words.

　

What exactly was it about Oribe-ware that attracted him?

　

Oribe-Ware (織部焼)

SAWA: I want to create something joyful and pop-like with Oribe-ware; items with an adorable charm that makes one’s face light up. (photo by TOBETOBEKUSA)

　

A type of Mino-ware, which was conceived in Mino Province (present-day Gifu Prefecture), Oribe-ware is characterised by its yellowish green “Oribe” glaze and playful asymmetrical forms.
 
Its name comes from FURUTA Shigenari (古田 重然, also known as FURUTA Oribe), a commander of samurai army and tea master active during the Momoyama period (1568-1600). He was a disciple of Sen no Rikyū (千利休), a tea master who perfected the concepts of “wabi” and “sabi” in the world of tea ceremony. However, FURUTA’s style differed from that of his master, and he excelled in creating unique and unbalanced silhouettes, such as intentionally distorting pieces, or breaking pieces and joining them back together again. His innovative style was called “hyōge-mono”, meaning hyōkin-mono*, and was popular among many Daimyōs (feudal lords). His aesthetic sense was also incorporated into tea ceremony rooms and gardens, and became popularly known as “Oribe taste”.

SAWA apprenticed himself to SUZUKI Gorō (鈴木 五郎), an Oribe-ware potter par excellence. A creative genius, SUZUKI ambitiously brings his outlandish ideas to fruition, such as with the “Goribe (五利部)” technique (a combination of his own name (Gorō), Sen no Rikyū, and Oribe–ware), a method he developed himself, and “Los Oribe” using clay from Los Angeles, USA. SAWA trained for three years under SUZUKI, who is very meticulous about the clays, glazes and other materials he uses.

　

Shigaraki-Ware (信楽焼)

If Oribe-ware is akin to hyōkin-mono, then Shigaraki-ware may be compared to bokutotsu.

Shigaraki-ware, fired at one of the six oldest kilns in Japan, was conceived here in Shigaraki Town in the mid-Kamakura period (1185-1333). A powerful and warm “landscape” reminiscent of the Earth is brought to life through the process of “yakishime (*2)”. While the areas touched by flame turn reddish, the feldspar contained in the base clay melts to become glass-like grains. Then, firewood ash melts to form a natural glaze (*3), which creates beautiful hues such as blue-green and black.

　

The Secret to SAWA’s Momentum is his Two-Sword-Style

In 2005, after completing his training with SUZUKI Gorō, SAWA returned to his birthplace of Shigaraki Town and began his career as a ceramist. Since then, he has been creating and exhibiting his works at a furious pace. The scope of his activities is not limited to Japan; in recent years, he has expanded to the United States and Singapore. His popularity in Japan has been soaring to the point that, for example, most of his works sold out at a recent exhibition in Tokyo. And orders from ryōtei (Japanese-style restaurants) are constant.
 
“It’s hard to think of new things in my head. It doesn’t come to me so quickly. Basically, I just move my body and if I don’t like it, I can stop. If I stop and think about it, I feel like I’m stuck.”
 
Shigaraki-ware and Oribe-ware require completely different approaches and production methods. Which is the one that allows SAWA to express himself in a more personal way?
 
Chuckling, he told us:
I think I am unexpectedly more creative when I am doing something different. If I get too involved, it becomes hard for me. When I am only painting (= making Oribe), I get bored. At that time, I want to do Shigaraki. But if I work only on Shigaraki, I want to paint Oribe.
 
SAWA speaks with a friendly smile. The secret to his unrivalled vitality and creative power may lie in his light footwork and two-sword-style, Oribe and Shigaraki pottery.

　

1. SAWA Katsunori (photo by Martin FRID)　　2. five-tiered box, Shigaraki-ware (photo by TOBETOBEKUSA)　　3. guinomi (sake cup), Shigaraki-ware (photo by TOBETOBEKUSA)　　4. plate, Oribe-ware (photo by TOBETOBEKUSA)

　

*1 firing his kiln: Depending on the size of the kiln, in the case of SAWA, it takes one day to fill the kiln with works, four full days to fire the kiln (the flame is controlled by the firewood used), and then one to two days to cool the kiln before removing the finished works. The pieces are then carefully polished one by one.

*2 yakishime: Firing at high temperature without glaze.

*3 natural glaze: Firewood ash that falls on unglazed vessels and melts at high temperatures to form a glaze.

　

　

LINKS:

SAWA’s instagram
https://www.instagram.com/katsunori.sawa.sawa/
 
OOGOYA -Ceramic shop, Cafe Restaurant and Pottery class
SAWA’s pottery is available in the store
http://www.oogoya.co.jp/englsh/
 
TOBETOBEKUSA -Japanese pottery gallery
SAWA’s pottery is available at their online shop and in the store
https://tobetobe-kusa.jp/

　

　

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