Category Archives: Japan

Sakai Mika

Sakai Mika is a Japanese ceramic artist, practicing the ancient Japanese technique of Nerikomi.  It is a style of pottery in which the clay is tinted, layered in precise ways, and sliced to form a slab which is pressed into or onto a mold.  The work’s color and decoration are created by the patterned clay rather than by a glaze or surface technique.The completed pottery will have the same pattern on its exterior and its interior.

The artist began her career in the Arts by studying fashion in Tokyo.  After she graduated she took her first ceramics course then went on to apprentice for two years under one of Japan’s foremost practitioners of Nerikomi.  She has since become one of the best Nerikomi potters in Japan. 

More of her work can be found on her blog, Facebook and Instagram.

Images:  Courtesy of Sakai Mika.

Shiro Kasamatsu (1898 – 1991)

Born in the Asakusa section of Tokyo to a middle class family, Shiro Kasamatsu started his art studies at a young age. In 1911 he studied Japanese style painting under Kaburagi Kiyokatahe.  He is one of the most highly respected of the Shin Hanga artists.  His designs were mainly of landscapes, but also included bijin-ga (female beauty), interiors, and Noh masks (one of his particular interests).  He worked with two publishers before going independent carving and printing his own designs in limited, numbered editions.  

Shirō produced about 290 prints during his life.

Images:  Courtesy of various sources.

Tricoté

Really liking this nondirectional pattern design from Japanese brand, Tricoté.  This line series is printed randomly so that each item will look different.  The pattern is printed on recycled leather and made into various items such as coin cases, mini wallets, book covers and leather files.  The available colors are mint and gray and can be purchased at Kinarino Mall.  Unfortunately, they do not sell or ship internationally but we posted this pattern for its inspirational impact.

Images:  Courtesy of Tricoté and Kinarino Mall, Japan.

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