Tohsai SAWAMURA

Touya Sawamura

Pursuing "beauty of use"

Born and raised on Kiyomizu Chawanzaka.
The Sawamura Toya Studio continues to create works with a dedication to wood-fired kilns, having built its own climbing and anagama kilns, which are rarely used today.

By studying the history of Kyo-yaki and Kiyomizu-yaki and constantly questioning the essence of "Kyoto-ness," the studio pursues its own unique form of expression. The works—characterized by the deep expressions born from the flames of these specialized kilns, adorned with delicate and vibrant hand-painting—are one-of-a-kind pieces where tradition and modernity breathe.

Focusing primarily on tableware for traditional Japanese restaurants (kappo), the creations emphasize the "beauty of utility," with the premise that they are meant to be used.

Member of the Kyoto Traditional Pottery Association
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Touya Sawamura

I was born and raised in Shimizu Chawanzaka.
The pieces are produced by firing in wood-fired kilns, using climbing kilns and anagama kilns that are rarely used these days. This is a commitment to the traditional kilns that was established by the previous generation.
We ask ourselves, "What is Kyoto-ness?"
While studying the history of Kyo-yaki and Kiyomizu-yaki, he established and expressed his own style. Sawamura Toya Studio's "delicate, Kyoto-esque pieces" are created with a commitment to tradition and a deep affection for the area of ​​Kyoto and Kiyomizu, and are a contemporary expression of traditional culture.
These one-of-a-kind pieces are based on the atmosphere created by the flames unique to climbing kilns and anagama kilns, and feature delicate and gorgeous paintings that are meticulously crafted down to the smallest detail. Sawamura Toya Studio, which mainly produces kappo tableware, creates pieces that are based on the premise that the tableware will be used, in other words, they can be said to be works that "pursue the beauty of utility."

Member of the Kyoto Traditional Potters Association

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