Japanese bowls, plates, pots, and ‘katakuchi’ (traditional sake bowls) each possess distinct shapes and names, varying according to their use. The phrase “beauty of use” was coined to describe the simplicity and elegance of ‘utsuwa’ (ceramic vessels) made to be held. However, certain aspects are often overlooked when focusing only on its intended use, an elegance unseen if only colour and shape are considered.

This book was produced over more than three years and documents the work of more than seventeen ceramists. The clay, the glaze, the condition of the potter’s wheel, and even the weather on the day the object was made all combine to capture a moment in time.