Inside the Pottery Studio of Japanese Potter Makoto Asebi

Japanese potter Makoto Asebi was born in Sapporo, Hokkaido, but now lives and works in Kamakura, Japan.

This talented craftsman focuses on creating timeless pieces of pottery with character and warmth. He uses the pottery wheel and special slips in the glazing process to achieve a matte like appearance on the surface of his vessels. His ‘Tetuya’ range is especially popular, which has a dark ever changing appearance thanks to the properties of the glaze.

There’s a selection of woodwork by Makoto Asebi in our shop

Makoto Asebi is a Japanese potter based in Kamakura, Japan. Having been raised in Sapporo, the mountainous northern region of Hokkaido, this area is known for it’s pottery that’s textured with subdued colour, reflecting the colder weather in this region. As Makoto moved to the popular coastal town of Kamakura, which is a slightly contrasting place to settle, his pottery has a distinct flavour and aesthetic that really brings a new element to his pottery.

The area where he resides has a rural feel and Makoto’s workshop follows suit, with its wooden shutters and natural planting that scatter the grounds of his studio. Feeding off this , Makoto Asebi mainly makes functional pottery using simple black and white glazes. This makes it easy for his aesthetic and character to shine through, as well as offering a blank canvas for different food and drink to sit inside. Many of the pieces are not entirely symmetrical, showing the hand of the maker and connecting you to the process of making the pottery itself.

This feature here gives us a quick glimpse inside the studio of Makoto Asebi, looking at how he produces his works from start to finish. The pictures highlight him kneading the clay, moving to the wheel and finishing one of his distinct Delft dishes , and later firing some of his quirky coffee cups and small plates in the pottery kiln. In turn, a selection of his work can now be found in our online shop. Enjoy.