Hello I'm Aiko.
Today, I would like to write about a pottery experience with my daughter.
There are many interesting historical sites, such as temples and shrines in Kyoto. However, they might not be so attractive for children. Most children like to do something, not only visit tourist spots. I sometimes take my 13 years old daughter to temples and shrines, but she soon gets bored because she is not so interested in it.
This summer, I took her and her friend to a Kiyomizu pottery experience. (about Kiyomizu pottery, please read Emlog#13)
The two teenage girls very much enjoyed making pottery. So, I would like to write about what they experienced.
I hope this will help those who are looking for some activities in Kyoto!
Four of us, I & my daughter and her friend & friend's mother visited Shunzan kiln(about Shunzan kiln, please read Emlog13 as well), and took two experience courses, Hand Building Project Course and Wheel Throwing Course.
First, the representative of shunzan kiln, Shunzan san gave us a studio tour. He explained each process of Kiyomizu pottery. The girls interestingly listened to his explanation.
They looked like they were most interested in the painting part. They focused on watching a young potter painting flowers on tea cups, and were amazed by her painting skill.
After the tour, some samples were displayed such as cups, bowls, and plates in different sizes, and each of us could choose two of them. We could also decide colors for our potteries.
First experience was a hand building project course. Shunzan san demonstrated how to pile up clay to make a bowl. Then each of us tried making our own. As you can imagine, all of us struggled with making a shape, but Shunzan-san kindly helped us.
The girls concentrated on shaping their own works, saying that clay was very smooth and felt comfortable.
The next experience was a wheel throwing course. Again shunzan san showed us how to use a pottery wheel and demonstrated the way to create a cup from a lump of clay placed on the center of the pottery wheel. It was marvellous to see how quickly he made a beautiful cup. Then we tackled making our own works. The girls even more concentrated on using the pottery wheel without speaking this time, and took time to complete their works.
The potteries are dried, trimmed, grazed with colors, and fired in a kiln.
Finally they are completed in about a month after the experience, and sent to your home.
These are our outcomes!!
This experience was not only enjoyable for four of us, but also very informative especially for the girls who did not know anything about Kiyomizu pottery.
If you are interested in this pottery experience, please contact us or check the website of Shunzan kiln.
20 Sennyujitorincho, Higashiyama-ku, Kyoto
Tel:075-561-9333
12 Sennyujitorincho, Higashiyama-ku, Kyoto
Tel:075-561-9333
Open:10:00-17:00
Close: Thursday
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