Yasushi Yamachika - Contemporary ceramic art using the traditional five colors of Kutani

Unique worldview and expression

Yasushi Yamachika is an artist who uses the traditional five colors of Kutani ware to create unique worlds of animals and plants. The deep colors unique to Kutani Japanese paints are combined with a fresh luster and strength to create works that are both fantastical and full of vitality.

Yamachika's works, which feature animal and plant motifs, combine familiarity with modern sophistication and have been highly praised at numerous art and craft exhibitions. His expression goes beyond mere decoration; the vessels themselves are imbued with a narrative quality and elegance.

Making tableware that fits into your daily life

We are not only committed to creating artworks for viewing, but also to creating tableware that will add color to your everyday dining table. Even our everyday tableware features beautiful colors and intricate patterns, allowing you to feel the traditional beauty of Kutani closer to you every time you use it. With a strong commitment to not only the shape and color, but also the design, Kutani ware is loved for its ability to blend naturally into modern living spaces.

 

Personality as a writer

Yamachika is a very friendly person and full of ideas. When KASHIKO consulted with him about creating a furoshiki together, he offered one suggestion after another, from motifs to composition, and the form was born from their conversation. While possessing a rich sensibility as an artist, he works precisely and quickly. The production progressed in a good rhythm, and the furoshiki they worked on together was completed smoothly. His honest and cooperative attitude is one of the reasons he attracts so many people.

 

Scenery of the workshop

Yamachika's studio is located on the second floor of his own store . Many unglazed pottery pieces are lined up on the shelves, each quietly placed like a canvas waiting to be painted. Pigments that produce vibrant colors and paintbrushes for different purposes are lined up neatly on the desks, and the entire studio is filled with an air of creativity. When you visit, you are enveloped in a quiet sense of anticipation, as if you are witnessing the moment a piece of art is born.

 

Harmony with KASHIKO

KASHIKO 's philosophy of "bringing serenity and beauty into everyday life" resonates deeply with Yamachika's work. Within the vividness of the five colors, there is a certain calm and serenity that gently brings order to everyday life.

Yasushi Yamachika Biography

1975 : Born in Terai-cho, Nomi-gun, Ishikawa Prefecture

2000 : Graduated from Ishikawa Prefectural Kutani Ware Technical Training Institute

2012 : Grand Prize winner at the 35th Traditional Kutani Ware Crafts Exhibition

2013 : Selected for the Toubi Exhibition (continuously selected thereafter), won the Member's Award at the Sozo Exhibition

2017 : Awarded the Excellence Award at the Traditional Kutani Ware Crafts Exhibition

2020 : Grand Prize winner at the Traditional Kutani Ware Crafts Exhibition

Regular member of the Japan Crafts Association, member of the Japan Ceramic Art Association