Nerikomi Pottery Lesson With a Famous Potter in Seto, Aichi

Overview

Learn about nerikomi pottery, which uses kneaded clay to make elaborately patterned ceramics, from popular artist Tomoro Mizuno! Watch him at work, knead clay to make your own 'mamezara' plate, and take home a mamezara by Mr. Mizuno as a souvenir.

Highlights

Key Information

Description

A technique that's over 1,000 years old, 'nerikomi' is a pottery technique that involves kneading then piling up layers of clay to create intricately patterned ceramics. In this activity, you'll learn nerikomi pottery from Tomoro Mizuno, a distinguished nerikomi artist whose creations have become a social media sensation in Japan and around the world. Seto, the town where Mr. Mizuno is based, has a long history of creating high-quality ceramics — over 1,000 years! Ceramics made in Seto are called 'Seto-yaki,' and are known for their glazes. Today, many artisans, including Mr. Mizuno himself, continue to keep time-honored pottery and ceramics techniques alive. This activity is available all year round. It starts at 10:00, and roughly follows this itinerary: 10:00 — Meet at Mizuno Norio Gallery. Take a tour of the gallery, and watch a nerikomi demonstration accompanied by a lecture. 11:00 — Try kneading clay under the guidance of Tomoro Mizuno. You will make your own mamezara plate. 12:00 — Activity ends. After the activity, you will receive a tiny decorative plate called 'mamezara' — a Tomoro Mizuno creation — as a souvenir. As Mr. Mizuno is a popular artist, his works usually sell out immediately at exhibits, so you normally can't get a hold of his creations easily! Additionally, once it's ready, the nerikomi item that you made yourself can be shipped within Japan or internationally for an additional fee.