Onda Yaki

In his search for true folk pottery, the Japanese philosopher Soetsu Yanagi (1889-1961) discovered the community of Onda Sarayama (Japanese for "Plate Mountain") on the island of Kyushu in Japan. Little has changed about the process and aesthetics of ceramic production in Onda since that time. Currently, ten of the fourteen families inhabiting the area participate in pottery production; the eldest son is the only person who is allowed to throw the pottery. This community works together using locally sourced clay to create iron-rich, functional pieces. There is a strong focus on slip decoration via brushwork, chattering, and dripping with a free and energetic approach.