ISEGAHAMA - Hyuga Hokoshima Yaki
Tomokiyo Kunio
At a Glance
| Location | Hyuga, Miyazaki - Kyushu |
| Founded | 1980 |
| Style | Hokoshima Yaki |
| Kiln | Gas |
| Clay | Mix of Shigaraki & local clay |
| Glaze | 15 different kind of glazes |
From the small town of Hyuga on the eastern coast of Kyushu comes the ceramics of Tomokiyo Kunio. This ceramic artist is the reason this gallery exists. In fact, his ceramics were my first encounter with Japanese craftsmanship more than 20 years ago and the beginning of my passion for it.
His studio is located near Isegahama Beach. The small island extending from the beach has long been called Hokoshima and continues to provide Tomokiyo-sensei with new inspiration.
Born in Miyazaki, Tomokiyo Kunio learned his craft in both Kasama (Ibaraki) and Mashiko (Tochigi). However, in Miyazaki he was able to fulfill his wish to create ceramics rooted in his own heritage. In fact, he found the right clay in his region for this purpose. The natural ash glaze also gives his creations the sense of naturalness that Tomokiyo-sensei strives for.
Tomokiyo Kunio is now over 80 years old and devotes himself to pottery with an almost ascetic dedication, aiming to create simple, natural tableware in a distinctly local style. In his surroundings, his tableware can be found in many restaurants.
It is ideal for izakaya-style casual dining, serving small dishes paired with a wonderfully cold beer. Being relatively robust, it is also in regular use in our own setting.
The coarse clay becomes a truly tactile experience through the soft colours and texture of the glaze. Over the years, Tomokiyo-sensei has increasingly devoted himself to exploring colour. While his tableware was once characterised by earthy tones, his cups have now become more playful. The more delicate qualities also come to the fore in his bowls, and his celadon creations in particular display a special warmth.
ISEGAHAMA White bowl (Large)
ISEGAHAMA White bowl (Small)
ISEGAHAMA Hyuga Serving platter
ISEGAHAMA Hokoshima Tile Plate
ISEGAHAMA Hyuga Spiral plate
