BOOK Ceramics Toru Hatta

The enduring appeal of Hatta’s work.Each month, Hatta fires ”an anagama” kiln—a process that requires an extraordinary amount of time and dedication. He shapes clay on the wheel, carefully stacks his pieces in the kiln, and tends the fire, always moving, always engaged. This ongoing cycle reflects a life devoted to fire and earth, a practice shaped by years of repetition and refinement.Hatta refers to the act of retrieving his works from the kiln as “harvesting.”To him, pottery is not something created at will but something entrusted to nature—emerging through a process that mirrors the cultivation of food. This deep connection to natural rhythms is what he finds most compelling, believing that his works will naturally be passed down over time, finding new lives across generations.Among the works featured in this exhibition, his signature ”Shirokake”—red clay vessels coated with white slip—highlight the subtle individuality of each piece, revealing a variety of textures and expressions