Supervised by: OKUDA Toru
Despite pottery playing a vital role in our nation's culture, there's been a recent imbalance in book publishing, with fewer appreciation books and technical guides being released compared to before. It's also becoming increasingly difficult for families to pass down their kilns, leading to a decrease in young people pursuing a career in pottery. There's a concern that if this trend continues, Japanese pottery, which has thrived for hundreds and thousands of years, might face its demise in this era.
Looking at the Japanese culinary world, large traditional Japanese restaurants that were used for wedding receptions, memorial services, and company New Year and year-end parties have declined, giving way to smaller, counter-style kappo restaurants. Furthermore, the average customer spend per person has risen from approximately 10,000-30,000 yen to 30,000-50,000 yen in the last decade. This isn't just limited to sushi restaurants; tempura, unagi, and yakitori establishments are also seeing a year-on-year increase in customer spend. Consequently, restaurants have also had to adapt; unless they use high-quality tableware and serve delicious food, they won't attract customers. This trend is particularly strong in restaurants in major cities, where every owner actively seeks out good, new, and preferred tableware, significantly elevating the perceived value of both cuisine and tableware.
Moreover, for young chefs in this age of information overload, one way to express their individuality is through the presentation of their dishes using "tableware." It's a fact that an increasing number of chefs, particularly those specializing in Japanese cuisine, are commissioning potters to create tableware in their preferred shapes. This also presents a significant business opportunity for potters. This project aims to shine a light on potters in their 30s, 40s, and 50s who are diligently exploring and creating new eras, pursuing unique forms, manufacturing methods, and their individual expressions. We will delve into what they are currently thinking, what they aim to achieve, and how they plan to evolve.
Despite pottery playing a vital role in our nation's culture, there's been a recent imbalance in book publishing, with fewer appreciation books and technical guides being released compared to before. It's also becoming increasingly difficult for families to pass down their kilns, leading to a decrease in young people pursuing a career in pottery. There's a concern that if this trend continues, Japanese pottery, which has thrived for hundreds and thousands of years, might face its demise in this era.
Looking at the Japanese culinary world, large traditional Japanese restaurants that were used for wedding receptions, memorial services, and company New Year and year-end parties have declined, giving way to smaller, counter-style kappo restaurants. Furthermore, the average customer spend per person has risen from approximately 10,000-30,000 yen to 30,000-50,000 yen in the last decade. This isn't just limited to sushi restaurants; tempura, unagi, and yakitori establishments are also seeing a year-on-year increase in customer spend. Consequently, restaurants have also had to adapt; unless they use high-quality tableware and serve delicious food, they won't attract customers. This trend is particularly strong in restaurants in major cities, where every owner actively seeks out good, new, and preferred tableware, significantly elevating the perceived value of both cuisine and tableware.
Moreover, for young chefs in this age of information overload, one way to express their individuality is through the presentation of their dishes using "tableware." It's a fact that an increasing number of chefs, particularly those specializing in Japanese cuisine, are commissioning potters to create tableware in their preferred shapes. This also presents a significant business opportunity for potters. This project aims to shine a light on potters in their 30s, 40s, and 50s who are diligently exploring and creating new eras, pursuing unique forms, manufacturing methods, and their individual expressions. We will delve into what they are currently thinking, what they aim to achieve, and how they plan to evolve.
Released on 2024/04/06
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Modern Ceramics | Seibundo Shinkosha Publishing Co., Ltd. (seibundo-shinkosha.net)