Etsy Spotlight: Koji Kitaoka

Shinogi Mug Cup ($30)

Contemporary Japanese pottery is a huge tendency these days with its handmade minimalistic human face featured with many of the most pin-worthy styled interiors. The elegant too refined ceramic mugs too bowls of Koji Kitaoka are a characteristic illustration of this mode too it is a keen honor to convey him today on the weblog talking almost his creative journey, correct subsequently the jump.

Tell us a trivial fleck almost yourself too your store.
I'm Koji Kitaoka. a potter living inwards Fukuoka, Japan. After graduating from academy inwards Tokyo, I moved to London too lived at that spot for 2 years. There, I worked at a local eating theater acre studying at a linguistic communication school. Moving dorsum to Tokyo too experiencing several types of jobs, I started to intend that I wanted to brand something that volition proceed me ambitious too inquisitive. I too realized I was skillful at creative work. Then pottery, which was my father's profession, came to my heed too I persuasion I would give it a try.

From 2007, I studied at Arita College of Ceramics for 2 years. After graduation, I worked at a pottery studio inwards Toki, Gifu for a year. In 2010, I moved dorsum to Fukuoka, my hometown, to travel at my father’s studio too got established. My studio is inwards an environs of small-scale forests, almost 10 kilometers from the pump of Fukuoka city.

I met the people (sales assistants) who wishing to innovate my pieces abroad at local arts and crafts fairs, too they helped me opened upwardly my Etsy store 2 years ago.

Shinogi bowl 8.3in ($42)

What is it that makes your products special?

Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 skillful combination of design, shaping too firing. 

Which of the products you lot convey inwards the store are the most pop with your customers? Why practice you lot intend is that?

Products decorated with Senmon lines. These are designed quite only too got a unique human face on their surface.


Do you lot convey whatsoever favorites from your collection?

Yes, I similar my Senmon series, peculiarly the bowls. 

Senmon cafe au lait bowl south ($30)

Trapezoid linen bowl ($30)

What influences your work?

Vibes (according to the mood at the time) too wishing to create products. 

How practice you lot unremarkably proceed yourself inspired?

Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 mount of travel tin render a lot of inspiration.

Describe your studio. What practice you lot similar the most almost it and/or what would you lot similar to change?

My studio is located 10km away from the pump of the urban pith too surrounded yesteryear woods. I convey skillful access to the urban pith but too a Earth environment. I actually similar this location. It’s got plenty infinite for travel too living, too I’ve too got a wood stove. If I had an air conditioner inwards the studio, travel during humid summertime fourth dimension would endure to a greater extent than comfortable!


How has your business/store evolved over time?

Each fourth dimension I made progress, ever I got opportunities coming from novel skillful people.


Were at that spot whatsoever defining moments inwards your career?

Yes. when I met my sales assistants on Etsy shop. They gave me the gamble to endure connected with customers overseas through Etsy. 

Shinogi sake loving cup ($15)

Shinogi Demitasse loving cup ($25+)

What is the 1 matter you lot would alter if you lot were starting over?

Nothing!


What aspects of your business/store practice you lot taste the most/least? 

My products tin endure found fifty-fifty from overseas via Etsy. That's the signal I appreciate the most. These handmade products can't endure made then rapidly similar a manufacturing industrial plant life made. That's the signal I'm enjoying the least.

Where practice you lot run across your describe of piece of work concern inwards five years time? 

I convey no idea! That's it, really! 

You tin observe Koji Kitaoka on instagram too pinterest.

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