Arita Ware
Ceramics School
Hirotsugu, the young master of ceramics.
Hirotsugu Yamaguchi, who lives in Takeo City, Saga Prefecture, was studying the art at the Arita College of Ceramics until this spring. Hirotsugu's family runs a pottery that makes a kind of ceramics called Tadaro ware, but he decided to attend the school in order to get a proper grounding in ceramics.
The Arita College of Ceramics, which is run by Saga Prefecture, is an unusual school that exclusively teaches specialistic knowledge and techniques on porcelain and earthenware. It's very characteristic of Arita, which is known as a ceramics town. The headmaster is Kakiemon Sakaida XIV, a very famous ceramic artist who has been designated as a "living national treasure." Students enroll in one of three courses: the professional course, research course, and short-term training course. Hirotsugu studied how to use the potter's wheel at this school for two years.
The college is located in a central part of the town of Arita. The largely one-storied school building is an open structure that encircles a courtyard. Unlike normal schools, there are no rows of desks in any of the classrooms. The most important aspect of study at the Arita College of Ceramics is pottery making, so most of the classrooms - like the Painting Room, Forming Room, Kiln Room, Workshop, and Sculpting Room - are designed for hands-on work. (207 words)
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Hirotsugu's hands at work.