A Spark with Paper Clay

Hanada: How did you come to start making pottery?

Naoko Matsuura: When I was in the second grade, I was making a clown in art class and suddenly felt a spark.
I had always liked drawing, but this felt completely different.

Hanada: That was when you first became aware of what truly resonated with you.

Naoko Matsuura: I’m not very good at talking, but it was also the first time I discovered the joy of expressing myself through making things.
Even so, until I was 34, I worked in fields completely unrelated to ceramics.

Hanada: During that time, were you still in touch with pottery in some way?

Naoko Matsuura: I loved maneki-neko, local folk toys, and clay dolls, and I collected them.
That naturally led me to visit antique markets quite often.
I recently acquired this Fushimi doll as well.
Doesn’t it have such a gentle expression?

Hanada: I really sense that same atmosphere in your pieces.

Meeting a Mentor

Hanada: At some point, that feeling for what you loved must have begun to grow stronger.

Naoko Matsuura: I couldn’t give up on drawing, so I decided to attend a ceramics training school in Kyoto where I could also study design.
After that, I spent a year at the Kyoto Industrial Research Institute, and during that time I met a Kyo-yaki master.
After finishing at the institute, I was fortunate enough to study under him.
He taught me with such kindness and care—I’m deeply grateful.

Hanada: What kinds of things did you learn there?

Naoko Matsuura: The basics of tableware and wheel throwing, of course. I also learned how important finishing details are.
For example, this piece is made so cleanly and precisely, isn’t it?
If you look closely at the surface, you can see subtle kanna marks.
Adding these fine planes with a kanna softens the overall impression.
I was taught how vital those extra touches can be.
My teacher formed pieces with great precision, but also poured care into even the parts that are easy to overlook.

The Tableware I Want to Make

Hanada: What kind of Tableware do you want to create?

Naoko Matsuura: I want to create pieces that give a sense of calm.
I came to think this way after hearing words from customers.
When people say things like, “Your pottery is soothing,” or “Having a drink from Naoko’s ochoko washes away the fatigue of the day,” I feel grateful to realize that this is how my work is being received.

One by One…

Hanada: Is there any kind of work you’d like to try in the future?

Naoko Matsuura: I’ve always loved the bold red overglaze style of artists like Okuda Eisen, so someday I’d like to create tableware with that kind of powerful painting. It may be a bit ambitious… (laughs).
But no matter what I make, I believe the most important thing is to continue, as I always have, to work carefully and put my heart into each piece, one by one.

Things I Saw in My Hometown

Hanada: A few words for the upcoming exhibition, please.

Naoko Matsuura: I’d like to create works around the theme of what “Japan” means to me.

Hanada: What do you feel is the essence of Japan’s appeal?

Naoko Matsuura: I’m not sure if this is the right word, but perhaps it’s a sense of “simplicity.”
The landscapes, the feeling of the seasons, the warmth of people…

Hanada: That must be the scenery of Akita that’s stayed with you since childhood.

Naoko Matsuura: Seeing greenery or wide rice fields still makes me feel at ease. I hope to express something lively and joyful—something old yet timeless—in my own way.

Hanada: Thank you very much. We’re really looking forward to the exhibition.

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