Introduction
People often ask us: What makes Japanese pottery unique?
The answer isn’t just about place—it’s about an approach to craft, materials, and philosophy. While Hashi Pottery does not (yet) carry pottery made in Japan, all of our potters are influenced by Japanese traditions in distinct ways. Some have studied in Japan, some have trained under Japanese masters, and all share a deep respect for materiality, process, and the idea that craftsmanship is a lifelong practice of humility and service.
While the Japanese ceramics tradition is long (nearly 10,000 years!) and varied, we wanted to share what we believe makes Japanese pottery distinctive and how its influence continues in potters’ work worldwide—including those at Hashi.
1. The Essence of Japanese Pottery: What Makes It Distinctive?
A Focus on Materials & Process
One of the defining features of Japanese ceramics is the close relationship between potters, materials, and firing methods. Many traditional Japanese potters use local clays and natural glaze ingredients (such as wood ash or feldspar) that are deeply tied to their region. Some styles, like Bizen or Shigaraki, even leave pieces unglazed, allowing the firing process itself to determine the final surface.
Western studio pottery often emphasizes consistency and control, while Japanese pottery tends to embrace the natural and the unpredictable.
The Shokunin (職人) Ethos: Craftsmanship as a Lifelong Practice
Another key aspect of Japanese pottery is the shokunin (職人) ethos—a concept that values artisanal mastery as a form of spiritual practice and communal service. Rather than focusing on personal expression or artistic ego, many Japanese potters see themselves as participants embedded in a web encompassing nature, tools, and users. Their goal is to refine their craft over a lifetime, creating objects that are both beautiful and useful. In a certain sense, one could say that the potter sees herself – no less than the product of her work — as a vessel. Only instead of containing flowers, beverages, or foods, the potter carries forward a rich history of natural materials and time-tested techniques.
This perspective deeply influences Hashi’s potters, who approach their work with humility, patience, and a commitment to honoring the materials they work with.
Letting Clay & Kiln Guide the Work: The Beauty of Yōhen (窯変)
A hallmark of Japanese ceramics is the idea that clay and fire should be equal partners in the creative process. Rather than forcing a material to conform to a pre-determined idea, many Japanese potters allow the clay’s natural texture, the ash from the kiln, and the serendipitous effects of firing to shape the final result.
This is especially true in wood-fired pottery, where flames, temperature shifts, and flying ash create surfaces that cannot be precisely controlled. Instead of resisting these forces, Japanese potters (and those influenced by them) welcome the unexpected. This phenomenon is known as yōhen (窯変), or “kiln transformation”—the unpredictable yet often stunning changes that occur during firing.
For example, in the Bizen tradition, potters often fired their wares without glaze, allowing the kiln to “paint” the piece with flame and ash. This method, called hidasuki (緋襷), creates red “fire cord” markings from straw placed around the pots before firing. While this may be understood as a creative principle, it was originally the result of an adaptation to the conditions of local clay, which was not amenable to glazing.
The magic of yōhen means that no two pieces are exactly alike. A glaze may break into rivulets of color, an unglazed pot may emerge with subtle fire-kissed gradients, or an ash glaze may create a glassy, flowing pattern that looks almost painterly. Many of Hashi’s potters embrace this same spirit—allowing kiln effects to guide and complete the work, rather than imposing rigid control.
2. How Hashi Pottery Embodies These Values
At Hashi, we do not sell 'Japanese pottery' in the strict sense of the term—our pieces are made by artisans from our local communities. However, our potters are deeply influenced by Japanese traditions in three key ways:
- They share a Japanese-inspired approach to pottery—focusing on materiality, process, and letting the clay and kiln guide the work.
- Some have studied in Japan or trained with Japanese pottery masters, incorporating traditional techniques into their own practice.
- Some of our potters are Japanese themselves, bringing their cultural experience and artistic sensibilities into their craft.
Adapting Tradition to Local Conditions
Some of our potters also consciously adapt Japanese traditions to local materials and environments. For example, Andy Vlock, who studied in Mashiko, approximates a nuka glaze (traditionally made from rice husk ash, which is high in silica) by harvesting and burning withered corn stalks—also high in silica—from a local farmer’s land (see image above). This process honors the original intent—using natural, available materials—while making it relevant to his specific landscape. Similarly, like their traditional counterparts in Japan, our potters often incorporate local raw materials such as river sand, crushed granite, or even wild clay into their clay. In the photos at right, Andy digs for wild clay near an apple orchard in Hadley, Massachusetts and then begins the process of sifting it for use in his original glaze recipes.
This approach reflects the spirit of Japanese pottery, where different regions have historically developed unique styles based on the resources available to them. Just as Bizen potters use the iron-rich clay of Okayama and Shigaraki potters embrace the coarse, fire-resistant clay of their region, Hashi’s artisans bring that same place-based creativity into their work.
Japanese Pottery in Everyday Life: The Spirit of Mingei
One of the most distinctive aspects of Japanese pottery is its deep connection to everyday use. Unlike ceramics historically made for the elite, much of Japan’s most beloved pottery traditions—such as Bizen, Shigaraki, Mashiko, and Onta—developed in close relationship with daily life. This philosophy is best captured by the concept of Mingei (民芸), or “folk craft,” a movement pioneered by Soetsu Yanagi in the early 20th century.
Mingei values simple, functional, and handcrafted objects that are meant to be used rather than merely displayed. In this tradition, a yunomi (teacup), donabe (earthenware pot), or guinomi (sake cup) is not just an object—it is a vessel for human experience, shaped and reshaped by the hands that use it. The subtle variations in glaze, the feel of raw clay against the fingertips, and the way a piece integrates into daily rituals all contribute to its beauty.
Moreover, unlike some Western ceramic traditions that emphasize pristine perfection, Japanese pottery is deeply intertwined with daily life. A well-loved tea bowl will develop a unique patina over time, making it even more beautiful through use. This aligns with the Japanese concept of mottainai (もったいない)—a reverence for objects and their lifecycle.
At Hashi, we embrace this spirit. Our potters create work that is not meant to be placed behind glass, but to be held, used, and enjoyed in everyday life. This commitment to functional beauty is part of what makes Japanese-inspired pottery so special—its beauty is not static but unfolds over time through use and touch.
3. Why We Love This Approach
One of the reasons people are drawn to handmade ceramics is that they feel alive in a way that mass-produced objects do not. The beauty of Japanese pottery lies in its ability to capture imperfection, spontaneity, and a deep connection to nature.
At Hashi, we celebrate these same values. Whether in the earthy textures of a yunomi, the subtle variations in a glaze, or the way a piece feels in the hand, our potters embrace the philosophy that great pottery is not just made—it emerges through a conversation between artist, material, and fire.
Hashi means “bridge” in Japanese. Our mission is to connect these venerable hallmarks of Japanese pottery to users in our communities. In that sense, we too see ourselves — like the pots we carry and the potters who make them — as a vessel for both this beautiful, ancient tradition and its contemporary manifestations.
If you’re looking for pottery that carries the essence of this tradition, we invite you to explore our collection. Check out our online store or visit us in any of our three locations in the Eastworks Building in Easthampton, Massachusetts to experience these pieces in person. You can find Hashi pottery at:
- 50 Arrow Gallery (Suite 136)
- Printed Mass (Suite 162)
- Moonlit Sea Prints (Suite 226)
We can't wait to share our passion for this tradition with you.