Enter My Workshop

Shigemichi Tabata

I am a ceramic artisan with 45 years of experience from Toki, Gifu, Japan. I specialize in tableware that fuses modern design with Japanese tradition, and are not only elegant but also practical for day-to-day use.

My Artisano shop features my kingin nagashi works, which I designed approximately 10 years ago. They are particularly challenging to craft due to their thinness, but are some of my favorite ceramic works. I hope you can enjoy them.

Gifu Prefecture, Japan

美濃焼の伝統

Minoyaki Tradition

My workshop is located in the historic Mino province, in today's Gifu prefecture in central Japan. Considered Japan's oldest pottery-producing region, minoyaki has a history dating back 1,300 years. Starting from humble beginnings, in kilns dug from the side of mountain slopes in the 7th century, minoyaki has evolved through the generations to produce some of Japan's finest examples of pottery, including works for Japan's legendary warlords, scholars, and masters of the tea ceremony.

金昇窯

Kinshō Kiln

The Kinshō kiln, built in 1955, is the centerpiece of my workshop. My works are subjected to temperatures of over 1,200 degrees Celsius (2,200 degrees Fahrenheit) for 18 to 19 hours. These incredible temperatures cause the soft clay to transform into ceramic, imparting my tableware with strength and stability for everyday use.

黒土

Kurotsuchi

My preferred clay, kurotsuchi, is one of Japan's most beautiful types of clay that I've carefully sourced from Shiga prefecture in Western Japan. Known for its striking black color after being fired in the kiln, this luxurious clay is also notorious for being challenging to work, requiring years of experience to master.

1955

The Kinsho kiln was first constructed in Toki City, Gifu prefecture. This kiln is still in use at my workshop today.

1959

I was born in Toki City, the same city where my workshop is located today. My father was also named Shigemichi, and he too was a master craftsman in the art of Mino pottery.

1979

I became the second-generation heir to my family business at the age of 20, when I created my first handcrafted works.

1996-1997

The first major exhibitions of my works were held in Nagoya in 1996 and Tokyo in 1997.

1997

I led the construction of a new kiln in Obara village, Aichi prefecture, which was a lifelong ambition.