From a young age, Inayoshi Osamu harbored a love for nature and a knack for the handmade. His childhood was spent amidst the natural wonders, fishing in rivers, and catching insects in mountains. At home, he engrossed himself in assembling popular plastic models of the time. However, as he grew older, uncertainty clouded his vision for the future. Thus, leading to a period of depression and frequent job changes.

A significant turning point for Inayoshi Osamu arrived at the age of 22 with the passing of his beloved grandfather. In Japan, it is customary to place the remains of the deceased in a ceramic urn known as “kotsutsubo.” Disturbed by the undertaker’s choice of a mass-produced urn for his grandfather, he vowed to craft personalized kotsutsubo for his parents, undoubtedly instilling a newfound purpose in his life. Thus, he embarked on a journey to Seto city, a hub for ceramic ware production, to master pottery.

Eager to learn, he joined the Aichi Prefectural Ceramic Art School in Seto. It was the start of a journey deep into the world of ceramics, where the potential for crafting meaningful, bespoke kotsutsubo became a driving force in his life. Soon after graduating, he relocated to Mino, a region renowned for Oribe and Shino style ceramic wares. Here, he delved deeper into Minoyaki, immersing himself in its rich history and techniques. During this period, he stumbled upon Atsumiyaki, an ancient pottery style originating from his hometown’s region, the Atsumi Peninsula. Captivated by its centuries-old tradition and its historical role in Japanese architecture, he dedicated himself to exploring the essence of Atsumiyaki.

Inayoshi Osamu’s Work and Artistic Style

Inayoshi’s creations are a harmonious blend of the medieval and modern eras, exuding both antiquity’s solemnity and today’s usability. Committed to environmental consciousness, he employs eco-friendly materials to depict the beauty and fierceness of nature in his pieces. Through his art, he endeavors to bridge the gap between the old and the new. Hoping to revive a profound appreciation for Japanese traditions in the younger generation.

In a rapidly changing world, he sees a crucial role for himself – to communicate the rich narratives of traditions, local cultures, and the intrinsic connection to nature he has unearthed through pottery. He perceives a tendency in modern Japan to sideline traditional crafts, a sentiment exacerbated by the younger generation’s distance from their cultural heritage. His mission is to reignite a passion for the authentic and irreplaceable aspects of traditional Japanese culture.

Ceramics, in his view, are a universal language, transcending geographical boundaries and fostering connections worldwide. He cherishes the global dialogue facilitated through his craft, consistently seeking to enhance his skills and deepen international bonds. His journey is a perpetual pursuit of perfection, a cycle of nearing his ideal and then striving for it anew, a testament to his unyielding drive for mastery and innovation in the pottery landscape.