The Clay Masters of Tokoname

Meet the Clay Masters of Tokoname in this mini-documentary on Bonsai ceramics! Tokoname is one of the six famous old kilns of Japan, producing tea pots, sewer pipes and... Bonsai Pots. Though Tokoname was famous for its clay (Tokoname literally means “Always smooth“), much of that has ran out and what remains are highly skilled craftsman, with a reputation for quality Bonsai containers, both glazed and unglazed. Invited by the Tokoname association, we shot this documentary on the true craftsmanship of the potters. Focusing on the process of creating a Bonsai pot, we filmed six artists in their ateliers. The stars of the film: Tatsuhiro Tanaka (Clay Atelier) Katsushi Kataoka (Reiho, Seizan Toen) Kazuhiro Watanabe (Ikko, Kanesho Seitosho) Kakuyuki Watanabe (Kakuzan toen) Katsuichi Shibata (Shibakatsu en) Hidemi Kataoka (Shuuhou, Yoshimura toen)