Pottery that resonates with the body
As I glance around the workshop, one coffee cup catches my eye. White and unadorned, it stands there with unassuming elegance. It feels light in the hand, easy. Like it could slip into any kind of day without effort. Before I know it, I’ve reached out and picked it up, slowly turning it over in my hands, imagining how it might look sitting on a shelf at home.
Mizunoue Pottery sits within Tōshun-ji Temple, the family temple of Mōri Motonari. This is where potter Gakuji Masui opened his kiln. He works alone, handling each step of the process himself, from shaping to glazing and firing. The moment the kiln is opened, he says, is when the excitement peaks.
“There are parts of firing that you can control, and parts you can’t. But if everything turned out exactly the way you imagined, where’s the fun in that? I think there’s something interesting about being lenient with your values, making space for the unexpected. That’s where discoveries happen. Even how a piece is used… that’s entirely up to whoever holds it.”
His philosophy of creating pieces somewhere between intention and chance may have been shaped by the unique atmosphere of Tōshun-ji itself, which feels like an alternative art space in its own right. The studio also hosts international ceramic artists as part of an artist-in-residence program. As we talk, in one corner, a hand-built anagama kiln quietly awaits its next firing.
Established in 2021 by Yamaguchi native Gakuji Masui, Mizunoue Pottery draws on his 12 years of training at the renowned Ōyagama kiln in Hagi. While rooted in Hagi ware techniques, his work aspires to the dignity found in classic ceramics. Visitors are welcome to stop by, however, it’s best to contact in advance as working days and hours may vary.
Yamaguchi, Yamaguchi City, Mizunouecho, 5−27 Inside the Tōshun-ji Temple
TEL：090-4659-4378
