Artist Visit - Hirohisa Kondo
The Shinkansen takes just an hour and a half to travel from Tokyo to Nagoya. From there, I hopped on a local train to Mizunami Station—a charming little stop that instantly brought back memories of slower, simpler times. Mr. Kondo himself waited by the ticket gate with a warm wave and a big smile.
Hirohisa Kondo is a ceramic artist based in Gifu prefecture in Japan’s historic Mino region.
Working with clay dug from the local mountains and glazes made from the ashes of nearby plants, he creates ceramics deeply connected to place.
You can explore a selection of Hirohisa Kondo’s works available at WAZA Tokyo here.
Meeting Hirohisa Kondo, a Ceramic Artist in Mizunami, Mino
We got into his car and headed uphill toward his studio. Flanked by lush greenery and nostalgic countryside views, the road gradually narrowed until it became more of a mountain path. At the top sat two houses—one a traditional thatched-roof home belonging to his father, the other a modern log-house style residence where Mr. Kondo lives with his family.
Mr. Kondo didn’t always intend to become a potter. In his younger years, he was obsessed with cars—he still is—and worked in customizing vehicles. But having grown up watching his father at work, pottery was always quietly part of his life.
In his late twenties, he asked his father to teach him ceramics. His father accepted without much talk, guiding him quietly through the process. One day, his father simply said, “This is good.” Soon after, Mr. Kondo held his first solo exhibition.
Working with Local Clay and Natural Ash Glazes
What’s fascinating about Mr. Kondo’s work is that his process begins with the earth itself. Sometimes he gathers clay from around his home, and other times he travels as far as Kagoshima to find the right soil.
Clay is never just clay—it varies in texture, color, grain, and character.
He also creates his own glazes. Plants from the forest behind his home are slowly collected and processed to extract ash for use as a glaze. Without machines, the process takes weeks, allowing the natural materials to settle and reveal their clearest layers.
Only after this preparation does he begin shaping the vessels.
The Traditional Noborigama Kiln in Mizunami
Mr. Kondo fires his work in a traditional noborigama, or climbing kiln, inherited from his father. Built into a hillside, the kiln stretches about five to six meters long.
Each chamber is loaded carefully. The placement of every piece determines how flame and ash move around it during firing, shaping the surface in unpredictable ways.
Once the firing begins, Mr. Kondo tends the kiln continuously—day and night—for four to seven days.
The Unpredictable Beauty of Wood-Fired Ceramics
Next to the kiln were shelves filled with finished pieces.
“Are these for your next exhibition?” I asked.
He laughed.
“Most of these are failures.”
Only about half of what goes into the kiln comes out exhibition-ready. But many of the pieces he calls failures still appeared beautiful to me.
For Mr. Kondo, however, each firing is an experiment.
Humidity, temperature, flame movement, and even the type of wood affect the final result. While gas or electric kilns offer more control, he prefers the uncertainty of wood firing.
That unpredictability is part of the beauty.
Expanding the Possibilities of Mino Pottery
Mr. Kondo is always exploring new ideas—experimenting with glazes, clay bodies, and forms.
Beyond bowls and cups, he has also created objects such as wall clocks and lighting fixtures, imagining ceramics as part of everyday living spaces.
Traditionally, many Japanese ceramic artists devote their lives to mastering a single form. Mr. Kondo embraces that tradition while adding something more: curiosity.
The Joy of Making Ceramics
Looking again at the shelf of pieces, I asked him what keeps him going after so many experiments.
He paused for a moment.
“Well… It’s just fun. I always think, ‘Maybe I’ll try this next time.’ That part is exciting.”
That sense of curiosity seems to connect many of the artists I meet. They often describe their work with the same words:
Fun.
Interesting.
Exciting.
Perhaps that is what makes their work feel so alive.
Explore Hirohisa Kondo Ceramics
Discover a selection of Hirohisa Kondo’s ceramics available at WAZA Tokyo.