The work most emblematic of Makoto would be his “Rinpa Oribe” series. Rinpa Oribe is Makoto’s unique technique of combining traditional Oribe with various traditional Japanese designs such as those of the Rinpa school (one of the major historical schools of Japanese painting, created in 17th century Kyoto), and decorating it with pictures and affixed patterns. The resulting impression changes depending on the angle from which you look at it, so you can enjoy it from any angle. Makoto smiles and says, “It has been very difficult to create this series,” as it takes a lot of time and effort to complete the complicated process of intricate painting and affixing the clay. Earlier motifs include “Dragon” and “Phoenix,” and recently “Frolicking Animals,” while this time “Fudo Myoo” (one of the most important divinities in Japanese Buddhism), “Bishamonten” (another Buddhist deity), and “Mandala” (a diagram, chart or geometric pattern that represents the cosmos in Buddhist art) were unveiled for the first time. When I asked him the secret of how he comes up with ideas for his works, he said, “I want to make something cool. It’s just a feeling,” he said, looking a bit perplexed. He told us that he gets inspiration from the various places he has visited in Japan and abroad, the architectural designs there, and motifs related to warlords, which he himself likes.
