Oritori Ishigaki City Official Tourism Information Site
Ishigaki Island is home to around 20 potteries, each producing uniquely crafted pottery. The Ishigaki Island Pottery Festival, held annually and organized by the Ishigaki Island Pottery Festival Executive Committee, is a popular event that draws many pottery enthusiasts. In addition, the "Yaeyama Islands Pottery Studio Tour - A Journey to Experience Island Life and Pottery" map, distributed at each studio and city hall, is a map introducing the pottery studios of the Yaeyama Islands. With this in hand, you can enjoy touring the studios to find your favorite piece of pottery.
Studio Taniike, which exhibits at the Ishigaki Island Ceramics Festival every year, is a pottery studio located in Yonehara, Ishigaki Island. Originally from Awaji Island in Hyogo Prefecture, Taniike Sachie grew up with parents who worked in the tile industry, so she was familiar with the earth from an early age.
Taniike, who loved the sea, was captivated by the richness of Ishigaki Island's nature and moved there in 2000. After working in a pottery studio for several years, he went independent and in 2008 set up a studio in Yonehara, Ishigaki Island, with a view of the sea and the mountains behind it, where he devotes himself to pottery making every day.
"I think the biggest attraction is being able to create things in an environment like Ishigaki Island," says Taniike.
On Ishigaki Island, ceramic artists like Taniike have immigrated from all over Japan and are working hard to create in their own style. The sight of these artists, each with a diverse background, freely pursuing their own unique style is one of the unique charms of Ishigaki Island. Among these is a studio that researches and recreates ancient pottery from the 18th century.
"I want to use local materials for my pottery as much as possible, so I go to the mountains to dig for clay, and for the glaze I get sugarcane and palm leaf ash used for firewood from a nearby brown sugar and salt shop."
Excavated clay
Glaze ingredients harvested on the island
Tools used for making pottery
"I love the ocean, of course, but more than anything, I love the deep green and humid atmosphere of Okinawa's mountains and forests," says Taniike, whose pottery truly exudes the breath of subtropical nature.
The appeal of these dishes, with their rough clay texture and simple design, is that they enhance any dish and add a touch of joy to your everyday dining table.
Topped with Mont Blanc made with Ishigaki Island purple sweet potato
"My goal is to create a variety of glazes using materials I have at hand. The most fun part is imagining what kind of pottery I can make using them."
profile
Sachie Taniike
Born in Awajishima, Hyogo Prefecture in 1974
He was familiar with earth from an early age, with his parents running a tile manufacturing business.
2000 Moved to Ishigaki Island and began production
2008: Established a workshop in Maibara
We strive to create tableware that is simple, easy to use, and makes food look beautiful.
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