※This interview was conducted in early February, 2020.

Hanada: Please tell us about your new works this time. First, the Shell 26cm deep plate and the small Shell plate. You took inspiration from French antiques.

Maya Inamura: I like the elegance of the original piece. I simplified the decoration on the rim a little.

－: The soft feeling is nice.

Maya Inamura: I also made the mold so that the unevenness would appear softly.
Additionally, the edges curve outward near the base and inward toward the rim, so I tried to express that naturally to make it look like a shell.

－: It seems versatile.

Maya Inamura: Mini tomatoes or broccoli work well, and since it has a moderate depth, it’s also suitable for rice dishes like fried rice or paella.

－: You also made small plates.

Maya Inamura: I thought a smaller version would definitely be cute.
When I made it, it turned out really well. I’m praising my own work (laughs).

Hanada: It really catches the eye on the table.

Maya Inamura: I think the way they fit in the hand is cute.
I imagined putting sweets like canelés on them.

－: Next, Maya’s recommended small cat dish.

Maya Inamura: It was inspired by the biwa(a Japanese stringed instrument) small dish I made last year.
Ko-sometsuke also has small dishes designed as horses, cows, and other animals. Seeing that, I thought a cat would be nice too, so I made it small in size.

－: Is it fun to paint cats?

Maya Inamura: Yes, I have a cat at home, so I have model nearby, and it’s very enjoyable. Cat has such expressive faces and so much variety.

－: Each sample has a different expression, too.

Maya Inamura: “A sleeping but awake face.”

Maya Inamura: “A knowing face.”

Maya Inamura: “Scheming face, as if planning something.”

Maya Inamura: Again, “A knowing face.”

－: This is fun.

Maya Inamura: The expression around the eyes changes completely with just a slight change in angle. Small differences can make a face look really mischievous or cute (laughs).
Also, in a cat’s body, the only straight line is the nose. He nose is straight, and everything else is rounded, which I really like.

－: Of course, living with a cat gives you that insight. What would you use this for?

Maya Inamura: Pickled plums. I made it so that you can also place chopsticks, so I’d like to use it for condiments during soba or cold udon as well.

－: Next is the fruit bowl. You took inspiration from French café au lait bowls.

Maya Inamura: The very existence of a “café au lait bowl” is cute. I like the way the base flares out like this.

－: It’s different from the foot of Japanese pottery and has a distinct atmosphere. Did you pay attention to anything when shaping it?

Maya Inamura: I tried to make use of the roundness above the foot.
Not too plump, but not straight either.

－: A moderate roundness.

Maya Inamura: If it’s too plump, it starts to look too much like Japanese tableware.

－: It would feel heavy.

Maya Inamura: This lightness is nice.

－: A size and shape that seem very versatile.

Maya Inamura: I’d be happy if it were filled with strawberries or cherries.

－: Lovely.

Maya Inamura: Its depth also makes it suitable as a small bowl for risotto and similar dishes.

－: Next is the cylindrical small bowl. This was inspired by English pieces. How do you feel about this glaze?

Maya Inamura: The natural whiteness, a slightly yellowish white, is beautiful. I tried to make it close to this milky white.

－: Different from Japanese white porcelain, it has its own charm.

Maya Inamura: It became a bit bluish, but I think I got somewhat close.

－: Different from your usual white, so it feels fresh. Also, I like the casual, somewhat sharp, seemingly careless way the rim is finished.

Maya Inamura: Yes (laughs). I wanted to bring out this carved sharpness. I also applied the glaze thinly.

－: You also made a smaller size.

Maya Inamura: It was cute as it was, but I made it smaller. You can put dips in it on a one-plate meal, so I thought it would be easier to use.

－: You might find interesting ways to use it. It’s the right size for a single egg yolk.

Maya Inamura: Also for spicy pickled cod innards (chanja).

－: True. The red of the chili really stands out against this white.

－: You also made a new Rim 24cm plate.

Maya Inamura: I first composed the rim with stamped patterns, then drew bird motifs that fit nicely in the center.

－: There’s a fun aspect to stamping.

Maya Inamura: The finished result is nice, but actually stamping itself is fun too.

－: It’s fun to stamp, huh?

Maya Inamura: The rhythm of “tap tap tap” makes it feel productive.

－:(laughs).　By the way, do you often use 24cm plates yourself?

Maya Inamura: Yes, we use them a lot. 21cm plates feel a little small and cramped on our table, so 24cm plates are just right. There’s also enough margin around the food.

－: Thank you very much. Good luck with the exhibition.

Maya Inamura: Thank you. I hope everyone enjoys viewing them.