Tableware that accompanies you in your everyday life and is cherished for years to come.
—First of all, could you tell us what sparked your interest in ceramics, Mr. Abe?
Maybe it’s because it’s the material we encounter most often in our daily lives. Between our daily meals and drinking coffee or tea, doesn’t everyone come into contact with tableware at least once a day? I think I was drawn to the idea of designing tools that are an integral part of people’s lives.
—I hear you majored in ceramics in college. Did you join Saikai Pottery right after graduation?
After graduation, I went to study in Sweden. At the time, I was drawn to Nordic manufacturers like *ARABIA*, *GUSTAVSBERG*, and *Rorstrand*, and I believed that if I were to study ceramics, it had to be in Scandinavia. But when I actually went there, I found out they were no longer producing in their home countries. Although the factories were still there, they had been converted into artists’ studios, and actual production had moved to Asia—which was a bit of a letdown.
A few years after returning to Japan, the chairman of Saikai Pottery—whom I had met by chance—asked me if I’d like to join their company and work at their factory in Thailand. I thought that in Thailand, I’d be able to witness the production process firsthand—something I hadn’t seen in Sweden—and it sounded interesting. So I decided to join the company. Since the factory handled production for various brands from all over the world, getting to see those operations firsthand was a great experience.
—So that’s how it all came about. You’re currently working as a ceramics designer and engineer, but what exactly does a ceramics engineer do?
It is the engineer’s job to turn the shapes conceived by the designer into actual products. Since pottery shrinks by about 12–15% when fired in a kiln, we must design the molds by working backward from the final shape. We also make other fine adjustments, such as angling the handles from the start because they sink slightly during firing, and calculating the thickness of the glaze so that the pieces stack neatly.
—As a designer, what do you value most?
It’s about blending naturally into everyday life. Hasami-yaki pottery originally developed as everyday items for the general public, so we cherish those roots. The simpler an item is, the more versatile it is, and the longer people will continue to use it. I’ve created all sorts of pieces over the years, but ultimately, I feel that straightforward designs are more loved than unconventional ones.
—“Saikai Pottery” operates several brands, but the first one Mr. Abe worked on was〈Essence of Life〉What kind of brand is it?
“We launched this brand based on the concept of ”crafting items that bring a sense of richness to everyday life.” We’ve reimagined the “Jukusa” pattern of Hasami ware as stripes and the lattice pattern as checks, and we’ve even repurposed traditional sake cups by altering their size to sell them as ice cream cups. In this way, the brand serves as a laboratory for bridging the gap between traditional Hasami ware and the modern world. Another hallmark of Hasami ware is that all patterns are hand-painted.”
—It doesn't look hand-drawn at all! Other brands...〈Common〉and ... and〈HASAMI PORCELAIN〉That's something else I'm curious about, too.
The 〈Common〉 series began with the goal of creating tableware that better suits modern lifestyles. Since Hasami-yaki had such a strong association with traditional Japanese tableware, I felt there was a need for something more neutral. The glasses used at “Blue Bottle Coffee” are actually from the 〈Common〉 series.
"Hashami Porcelain" is a brand created by Los Angeles-based designer Takuhiro Shinomoto, inspired by Japanese bento boxes. All of its products—including mugs, bowls, and plates—have the same diameter, so they stack neatly.
He is based in Los Angeles, where he promotes Japanese products overseas through “ Tortoise General Store "I run a shop where an Apple employee saw a 'Hasami Porcelain' mug and liked it so much that we ended up creating an original mug for Apple."
*For display purposes only
