Yuko
The Story
As historic center of the Japanese tea ceremony, it is only natural that Kyoto would have developed its own ceramics tradition. Its rapid spread in the Edō period led to a number of styles across the old capital, though generally speaking, all pottery produced in Kyoto today can be referred to as Kyo ware/Kiyomizu ware.
Named after the city’s famous Kiyomizu-dera, the slopes leading to the temple are known as Chawan-zaka, thus called due to the large number of pottery shops lining both sides of the road. Midway along is the Kōson kiln, opened in 1915 by the founder, Eijiro Hayashi, but it was his son, Enzan who began the actual production of its porcelain pieces. After experimenting with different techniques, he began creating the white porcelain and celadon pieces that Kōson eventually built their reputation upon. Katsuyuki Hayashi continued the tradition, with his eldest daughter Yukō, born in Kyoto in 1981, now serving as Kōson’s fourth generation head.
Despite being her father being a potter and her mother being a textile designer, as a child Yukō had no real interest in being an artisan. It was only after her mother passed away from illness when Yukō was 12 that she began to take on a stronger interest in drawing. She moved into ceramics as 21, first at Kyoto Prefectural College of Ceramic Technology, then while working with her father. She leads a very busy existence, continuing to help her father, raising her two children, all the while pursuing and improving upon her own ceramic style.
As one of only a few female ceramicists, Yukō has also been organizing support for up and coming female ceramicists. She also leads pottery workshops for children, finding it important to teach the younger generation about the value of pottery, at a time when all Japanese traditions are in decline.
The Tour
1) Introduction of artworks at the gallery
The tour will start at the gallery. In the space where Yuko Hayashi’s works are displayed, we will learn more about her unique style and production techniques. Visitors will be able to fully appreciate Ms. Hayashi’s world view through the thoughts behind her works and the background of her techniques.
2) Workshop tour and explanation of her works
Next, we will move to the studio for a demonstration of the “do scissors” technique, with explanations of the production site and tools used. Visitors will be able to see up close how Hayashi’s works are created by his hands.
3) Ceramic Art Experience (optional)
If you wish, you can try your hand at throwing on the potter’s wheel, hand twisting, painting, and making a vase for a single flower.
The time required is about 90 minutes, including observation.
for booking inquiries
The Craft
Kōson is well known for its exquisite works in Xi Shi white porcelain, made with traditional Nishiki production techniques, to create a surface smooth like white jade, reminiscent of the skin of an Asian beauty. The kiln also specializes in celadon, an elegant and unique deep blue color developed using ancient techniques from the Chinese Sung dynasty.
In 2016, Yuko found inspiration while watching a video on the traditional technique of hasamigiku, which literally means to use scissors to cut petals of chrysanthemums into traditional wagashi Japanese sweets. After realizing that the texture of the sweets was about the same as wet clay, she experimented with many different types of scissors, eventually figuring out which types suited the texture of the clay.
This unique scissoring pattern she calls tsuchibasami or “scissoring clay.” Moving on from her initial chrysanthemum designs, she has been expanding her technique to include things such as the scales of fish, or the feathers of bird’s wing. It takes about two weeks to create a piece such as flower vases, lamps, and tableware. Paper-weights and guinomi small cups prove most popular with foreign visitors.
Selected works
