What about you, do you like pottery?

Such was asked of me in passing by the owner of the Ginza gallery where I held my first private exhibition.

Let’s consider the significance of what was conveyed in the asking of such a question in somewhat more detail. What were its implications? Did what was posed quite unexpectedly have a deeper meaning? To wit, at the time, in all probability, I did not dislike what I was doing. Nevertheless, perhaps a related and valid query would have been to subsequently ask why I continued to ply my trade? Likewise, in that it was asked out of the blue, I don’t think that I gave much thought as to why I was undertaking a private exhibition then-and-there in that specific time in space.

However, unfortunately by my over-analysis of what was originally asked, I missed the optimum timing and the opportunity to offer a simple “yes” by way of response. Doing such would have led to the flow of discussion quickly moving on without much disruption. Instead, the gallery owner picked up on my momentary hesitation, and thus he offered the following: “If it is the case that you are so undecided, I would suggest that you learn to love your art. Learn to love it more and more over time. Also, learn to love it in all its myriad forms because only then will you have positioned your feet firmly on the start line of your career.”

Having listened to his impromptu speech, I felt pretty good about not responding to the initial question straight away. I say that because, if the truth be known, I really love and have a passion for what I do. However, back then, I felt more comfortable not blurting such out. I say that because that is not who I am as a person.

Thinking back on that episode as well from the distance of some decades, I feel that the interaction described probably represented the second significant turning point in my career vis-a-vis it leading me to become much more serious about the nature of my profession. In that respect, it followed in the footsteps of the occasion on which I was told not to “besmirch my master’s name!”

Put in a slightly different way, it was in the wake of such occasions that I knuckled down and started to really put some effort into the study of pottery in all its glory. The same was the case all those years ago as it is now. Such thoughts apply to both domestic pottery and whatever forms there are created overseas. My attitude is the same both with respect to antique pieces and objet, likewise when I think about both different styles of bowls, and those regions in which pottery is produced. To sum up, when it comes to pottery these days, it would be correct to say that my passion borders on being a form of mania. Having mentioned all that, however, if the truth be known, all those years ago when I was asked such a question while still in my late 20s as well, I really loved what I did for a living. Of course, the difference between me in my late 20s and now is that I knew much less back then.