Yoji Yamada

Yoji Yamada is a Japanese ceramist based in Shigaraki, Shiga Prefecture. He studied ceramics in London and started producing traditional ceramics in Japan in 2008.
His work has a strong influence from slipware work in 19th century English ceramics.

He uses the yakishime slipware technique, which has become the central element of his work. Yakishime pottery, whose origin dates from the end of the 12th century in Japan, is based on firing without enamel at temperatures above 1200 degrees, which vitrifies the earth while making it extremely hard. The natural enameling resulting from the deposits of incandescent ashes during cooking. Engobe is a type of ceramic that is fired by decorating the surface of the vessel with a serous clay called slip. Yoji Yamada's ceramics are most often decorated with patterns, decorations with a matte finish. Each ceramic has its own attractive and expressive pattern.

The pottery is fired by the power of Yoji Yamada's wood-fired kiln.