My name is Akiko Tao.

I graduated from the Art Department of Hijiyama University College in 1980. In 1992, I became a disciple of the Mashiko potter Narui Tappo. Three years later, in 1995, I opened my own kiln in Mashiko and began working as an independent potter.

In 2009, the Victoria and Albert Museum acquired my katakuchi bowl for its collection.

I’m Akiko Tao, and I have been working as a potter for 40 years. Living independently in a nature-rich town in Japan, I spend most days making pottery. The clay I use is prepared from raw soil, blended with mountain sand and other natural materials. Because I work with a traditional kicking wheel, I feel that the clay carries a unique softness in its expression. For my glazes, I create mixtures using stove ash, feldspar, and straw ash. I work with Oribe glaze, amber glaze, and ruri glaze, each of which is enriched by the minerals they contain. Through my work, I hope you can feel both the softness and the strength of the forms, as well as the beauty of the glazes.