COMMENT |

APRIL '84 - GARENDO GALLERY
CERAMIC TOUR OF JAPAN

Japanese ceramics have a unique position in the world of
art and craft. No other country that I know of places a
greater emphasis on ceramics. Yet knowing this, I was
still struck by the widespread reverence for pottery in
Japan. Kiln sites often had specially constructed show
palleries to honour master potters and it was not uncommon
to see people pouring over pottery books in big city book-
stores. Fine, newly-made tea bowls may fetch $1,000 or
more. With this interest in the craft and these prices, it
it no wonder that we met families (some of whom claim twelve
generations or so of potters) living well with fine houses
and German cars.

I cannot say enough about thia tour in the short space
available. It was one of the most enjoyable two week
holidays I have ever had. Japan is a lovely country, scen-
ieally attractive with its coniferous hills and April cherry
blossom and impressive for the eourtesy and kindness of its
people. You cannot fail to be stimulated and enriched by
its culture, from the uniformed and well-behaved school-
children, the civilised ard minute coffee shops with their
gorgeous cakes, the almost-artistiec ‘plastic’ food displays
in restaurant windows, to the interiors of traditional
houses and inns, and Japanese castles.

We travelled from Osaka south through Hiroshima to Nagata,
Hagi and Hamada, and back north through Matsue, Biaen and
Kyoto to Tokyo. We visited museums, paper-makers, toy-
makers and dozens of potters and kiln sites. We talked and
discussed and learned a lot. We puzzled over the Japanese
sense of beauty in pots and the astronomical prices of what
seemed to our naiive eyes somewhat unprepossessing tea
bowls. Helped by a particularly lively and good-natured
tour group these puzzlements turned into some very enter-
taining discussions and arguments.

abe.

such a rich experience does not lend itself easily to
distilled summaries of the principles of Japanese pottery.
But amongst the many things I have learned there are two
that may be of interest. Firstly, Japanese pottery has a

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