A group of ceramic artists, centering
recognized living national treasure Mr. Jun Isezaki, came together with
University of Oxford and Whichford Pottery to jointly create Anagama, a
Japanese style ancient kiln dug into the side of hill, within the campus of the
University.
Since few months back, the plan, named “Oxford
Anagama Kiln Project”, has been carried out in
conjunction by a Japanese team led by up and coming artist Mr. Kazuya Ishida
and a team of locals.
Kazuya, who helped significantly at
the event “Presenting Japan” and showcased wonderful performance, sent over
china clay suitable for the use of Anagama kiln. I had worked on pieces in real
earnest since the beginning of this year with the particular clay, and I took a
field trip to Oxford as I was offered to include few of my pieces into the
kiln’s first bake. 
Situated in a forest about 10 minutes
away from the station, two different sized kilns line up next to an atelier and
a caravan used as an accommodation. I could easily assume that the amount of
effort poured into building the entire set up on a vacant plot of land was
remarkably great.
Jim from Whichford Pottery was in the
middle of filling the kiln, and all staff, both the team from Japan including
Kazuya and the locals, worked relentlessly to load mountainous piles of wares.
I had a chance to chat with Robin, a
chief of the University team, and he shared that all wood used to fuel the kiln
is timber from thinning out the forest within the campus. Thinning out is
necessary treatment in order to keep healthy trees yet rarely practiced as the
byproduct ends up going to waste. The project gave new means to the thinning
lumber as well as helps keeping the trees well treated.
Moreover, we also conversed in depth
about recognising the enormous potential this project carries in means of
cultural progression for both Japan and Britain, and shared my intention to
participate in any measure from chef’s stand point, who actually work closely
with tableware.
The kiln was soon fired up, and I
waited with much excitement to hold the pieces from the first bake after 10
days of firing period.
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10 days later, the joint team’s first
bake in a climbing kilm had successfully completed, and Kazuya kindly delivered
my pieces before his flight back to Japan.
Unlike any baked colour from any
region of production in Japan, the finished colour was outstandingly unique and
well exceeded my expectation. Taking my molding technique out of question for
now, I cannot thank Mr. Ishida enough for the wonderful piece who made this
work possible with much endeavor along the way.
Furthermore, while the vase he
previously created for Umu using other kiln had been an important centerpiece
of the restaurant, he crafted a new piece with completely innovative
design. The new vase would be perfect with
invigorating spring flowers in the upcoming season; it is another piece of
treasure added to our proud collection.
While most people used pre-chosen
clay, Mr, Ishida travelled number of regions within UK and dug clay with his
own hands, gave through research into finding perfect clay for the climbing
kiln. His work was simply exceptional and exquisite.
As
long as a character like Mr. Ishida is taking part in the project, we have much to look forward to in its future development. 
人間国宝の伊勢崎淳先生を中心とした備前焼の作家とオックスフォード大学、Whichford Potteryが共同で大学の敷地内に日本の古窯と同じ穴窯を築き上げました。
前回“Presenting
Japan”のイベントでも手伝ってくれ、素晴らしいパフォーマンスを披露してくれた石田君が穴窯に合った陶土を送ってくれました。今年の初めから私も本腰を入れてその土を使った作品作りをしたものの一部を初窯に入れてくれるとのことでしたのでOxfordまで、見学を兼ねて行ってきました。
窯は駅から10分ほど離れた森の中にあり、陶房、宿泊用のキャンピングカーなどの傍に大小合わせて二基が作られていました。もともと更地だったところに作り上げる労力は相当のものであったことが想像できました。
釜の中ではWhichfordのJimが窯詰めの真っ最中で、日本や地元から来ている手伝いの面々、和也君皆総出で山のようにある作品を詰めていました。
大学側の主任であるRobinとも話が出来、窯炊きに使う薪は全て敷地内の樹林の間伐材で、樹木の健康を保つためには間引きは必要であるものの、間伐材が無駄になるために間伐自体がなかなか行われてこなかったために手入れが行き届かなかったそうで、今回のプロジェクトはそのためにも非常に有効だと言っていました。
また、今回のプロジェクトは日英両国の文化のために今後多くの可能性を秘めていること、私が実際に食器を使う料理人として何かの形で関わっていくことが出来ればという有意義な話をすることが出来ました。
すぐに釜焚きが行われ、10日間に及ぶ焼成の後、初釜の作品が手元に届くのがとても楽しみです。＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊
そして10日後、共同チームで初めての登り窯での窯焚きも無事終了し、石田君が帰国前にわざわざ私の形作った作品を届けてくれました。
そのうえ、以前石田君が別の窯で焼いてくれた大きな花入れはUMUの真ん中でいつも愛用していましたが、今回新たに違ったデザインで作り上げてくれました。これからの季節、爽やかな春の花たちとよく似合いそうでUMUの宝物が増えました。
石田君のような人がこのプロジェクトに参加し続けている限り、今後の発展がとても楽しみです。
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