KOGEI & Me

Mr. Kanda was born in Tokyo and his interest in manufacturing was naturally developed through the influence of his father who ran a press factory. Even as a high school student he had already decided that he wanted to be involved in the product development of wooden manufacturer. Mr. Kanda says that when he thinks about the future, he wants to connect with society through manufacturing. After grad...

At a workshop in the countryside the sunlight filters through the window casting it with a soft glow. Two men can be seen working intently on the wood in front of them. Both are graduates from the same traditional crafts university in Kyoto. They are planing the wood to ascertain its characteristics to prepare it for kumiko (lattice). In woodwork, besides having knowledge of the tools such as the ...

Mr. Hoshino has been working in Haibara of Nihonbashi area for more than half a century. He joined the company as a part timer at the age of 19 years old. During his apprenticeship, Mr. Hoshino worked under a manager called “Banto” who was very much older than him. Banto was rather stern but he did bring him out to have fun after work, recalled Mr. Hoshino fondly. His first job was as a delivery b...

The Ogawa brothers, Daizou and Kouzou, were born into a long historical lineage of potters. Their great-grandfather is none other than Konishi Toko – the famous first pottery producer in Bizen. As children, their playground was an old kiln site and a shrine made of Bizen ware. Subsequently, they went their separate ways. The older Mr. Daizou Ogawa took up an engineering job in Osaka but the younge...

Kokura-ori brand “KOKURA SHIMA SHIMA” is supported by two women. One is Ms. Hideko Watanabe who is the founder, the other is Ms. Mio Tsuiki who is the daughter of Hideko Watanabe. Ms. Hideko Watanabe loves music and used to be a jazz pianist. She was influenced by her elder sister Ms. Noriko Tsuiki who is a textile artist of Kokura-ori. Ms. Hideko Watanabe established “KOKURA SHIMA SHIMA” in 2007....

In an area rich in nature which is known for producing Ureshino tea, Mr. Hisahiro Soejima and Mrs. Michiko Soejima have been producing pottery for a long time. Both of them said in unison with a smile “We have never used a PC before”. This harmonious couple was responsible in developing “Soekyu GOSU” which consists of 5 different shades of blue. They took the opportunity to join “Arita Revitalizat...

Focusing on the glaze intently, he dips the porcelain into it with a constant rhythm. There is a youthful vigor to his posture. Mr. Irohara is from Kochi Prefecture. He was attracted to the charm of porcelain, which is intertwined with our daily living and it prompted him to knock on the door of “Tajimi City Pottery Design and Technical Center – Gifu Prefecture” with the aspiration to practice Kog...