One Kiln

One Kiln Ceramics, Kagoshima, utilizing ash from Sakurajima in that dark metal looking glaze. Thanks for the studio visit! + a few small pieces now at home in SF. 

One Kiln HERE

Shobu

One of our favorite visits in Kagoshima. Keep up the good work Shobu! Learn more about their amazing school HERE and their Nui Project HERE

Rhythm

Handcrafted leather goods by Shoichiro Ibushi in Kagoshima. Its seems that all the cool kids are carrying his wallets from his small studio above Junction 216 Store (killer little shop) tucked away within a huge outdoor mall. Ibushi San, Jouzu desu ne!

Rhythm HERE

Junction 216 HERE

Almost Everyday

The best planner I have seen yet, the Hobonichi which translates to "almost everyday" is used as a daily planner, a sketchbook and general notebook. All sorts of tasty details from flexible time slots, monthly and daily views, even birds of the world! Produced by Arts and Science, picked up at Papier Labo, Tokyo (this place has all the best notebooks). Looks like 2013 will be a punctual year.

A Few From Kagoshima

Just a few images from our recent trip to Kagoshima Japan including Sakurajima, and active volcano that erupts an average of 3 times a day, our apartment in Kagoshima City, the Observatory high above the city, the view of Sakurajima from Play Mountain and Good Neighbors along with an exhibition by Akio Nakuga, and a climbing kiln from a 400 year old pottery.

More to come from the trip

PlayMountain HERE

Starnet

Opens June 30 at Heath LA. Organized by Shin Nakahara. More HERE

Jiro Dreams of Sushi

ABX

Sartorial stylings out of Japan with Tsuyoshi Nimura and Cabane de Zucca with sculpture from one-eight hundred at Play Mountain. Thanks Tsuyoshi and everyone at PM!

Waist apron from Kagoshima Japan advertising the local libation made from Yams. Thanks Shin!

Plates and Platters

In house misc. plates and platters, including large stoneware dripper from NMc's LBCF past, 15" blue Heath platter from sundays Alameda Flea, small and smaller plates from Mashiko Japan, and vintage student work from 1998.

New Raku

Hardcore Raku bowl picked up at the Alameda Flea yesterday, from Japan. Very lightweight and slightly bubbling glaze. Other Arm Raku posts HERE HERE HERE HERE HERE (might need a new tag)

Be Strong, Be Gentle, Be Beautiful

"Keiko Fukuda is the highest ranking woman in the history of judo. She is the last living student who connects back to judo founder, Jigoro Kano. Fukuda will be 98 on April 12, 2011 and is an amazing inspiration to all."

Sensei Keiko Fukuda still teaches at the dojo she founded at the corner of Castro and 26th St in Noe Valley. Her motto: "Be gentle, kind, and beautiful, yet firm and strong, both mentally and physically."

????

Amazing cast(?) dandelion object presented as a gift from Play Mountain during the opening in Tokyo. I've  been mesmerized by it since. Anyone know how it's done? Freeze dried? Wishful thinking?

Textiling

A few of the textiles making their way home with us from Japan, including two sided finished boro blanket,  placemats from Claska "do", NMc's vintage tie dyed Yukata, continued sock addiction from Kyoto's Kapital, and hand dyed indigo from Mashiko.