Summer 2023 Newsletter: Takashi Nakazato Sensei Visit

In December of last year, 13th generation master ceramicist Takashi Nakazato came to visit Chozen-ji for six weeks. Nakazato Sensei is world renowned as one of the last potters making traditional Karatsu-yaki, a distinct style of ceramics established in the 15th century in southern Japan. For six weeks, he taught the same method of "throwing on the wheel" to Chozen-ji ceramics students that he himself was trained in. During his own apprenticeship, he trained in this specific method for two hours every day, for two years!

The focus of this method is in making a great number of small, functional wares using a tool that originally came from Korea and is called the "Bull's Tongue". At the height of his career, Nakazato Sensei would routinely make 600 pieces of ceramics a day using the Bull's Tongue, working from eight in the morning until midnight (with breaks for lunch and dinner).

Cristina Moon, Kana Ogawa, Geraldine Abergas, Eric Birkeland, and Lynn Lethin all trained with Nakazato Sensei and are at various stages of learning his method. After learning how to make a basic kozara (small plate) with the proper technique, students try to make as many kozara as they can in one hour without sacrificing form for speed.

In addition to teaching, Nakazato Sensei made a huge number of works that were fired in the wood-fired kiln in January. He gave many of these pieces away to Chozen-ji teachers and students, and donated a few pieces to the Chozen-ji Chado program and to the Art Show.

Nakazato Sensei will return to Chozen-ji after the upcoming Winter Sesshin. He has agreed that, if he can return every year to make ceramics—enjoying the company at the Dojo and being able to work in our beautiful, training atmosphere—he will train one of the Chozen-ji students up to meet his standards for being a teacher of ceramics. All of the ceramics students eagerly await his return.