Shuichi OkamotoSyuichi Okamoto

By incorporating elements of modern design into traditional Karatsu ware, we are presenting a new direction. Combining calmness and elegance, these dishes blend naturally into both everyday dining and special occasions.

The strength of Karatsu ware's clay and the beauty of its modern form coexist in the works of Okamoto Shuichi, offering new charms to both those new to Karatsu ware and those who have been familiar with it for many years.

Everything is done by hand, from the clay to the glaze

Okamoto begins his pottery making by selecting the materials. He personally ventures into the mountains, digs up the soil, creates the clay, mixes the glaze, shapes the pieces, and fires them, all in one process, resulting in pieces that make the most of the texture of the clay and the warmth of handwork.

This commitment to handcrafting is rooted in the traditional spirit of Karatsu ware, but has also been sublimated into the creation of tableware that blends naturally into modern life and spaces.

From the world of design to ceramics

Professor Okamoto Shuichi studied fashion design at an art college in Osaka, and after graduating he worked for a clothing design company. It was during this time that he developed his unique sensibility regarding the combination of color, form, and material. In the field of clothing design, functionality, beauty, and the ability to respond to trends are required, and this experience is also strongly reflected in his pottery making.

He then began to study pottery in earnest under his father, Sakurei Oka, who heads the famous Karatsu kiln Sakureigama, and in 2018 he set up his own studio and became an independent artist. Although he has only been in the business for just over 10 years, his reputation and popularity have been growing rapidly in recent years due to the high level of perfection of his works and his unique worldview.

A work that will be the "gateway" to Karatsu ware

With the desire to become a gateway to Karatsu ware, Okamoto-sensei creates tableware that is suited to modern lifestyles while still maintaining a strong foundation in tradition. This is why he places importance on how the tableware looks in gallery exhibitions and on the everyday dining table, and how it complements the space.

The design is based on the image of actual usage scenarios, such as the size of the vessel, ease of use, and balance when held in the hand. In addition, the color sense and sense of form cultivated in the fashion industry are combined, allowing the vessel itself to stand out while harmonizing with the space.

Fusion of design ideas and traditional techniques

While based on the Karatsu ware techniques inherited from his father, Sakurei, Okamoto Shuichi's works are full of design ideas and experimental spirit. In particular, the "Okamoto Shuichi Two-Color Karatsu Paisley Design Plate" is a symbolic piece, a unique dish that expresses the Western paisley pattern using Karatsu techniques.

The shape of the vessel, the expression of the glaze, and even the painted motifs all combine originality and elegance, and the appeal of Okamoto's works lies in the fact that they are both "fun to use" and "fun to look at."