Hara Seitosho
Led by artist Hosokawa Takahiro, Hara Seitosho specializes in Bizen ware plant pots. Each hand-crafted pot is carefully designed to create an environment for plants to thrive. The charm of Bizen ware shines through, with breathable unglazed surfaces decorated with traditional hidasuki straw patterns. Here, where Hosokawa directly mentors young artisans, the studio also serves as a training ground for the next generation of Bizen craftspeople.
Hara Seitosho was born from a collaboration between founder Hosokawa and Yoshino Hirofumi, a plant seller based in Okayama Prefecture, the birthplace of Bizen ware. Seeking pots that would better support the healthy growth of plants, Yoshino turned to Hosokawa to bring his vision to life.
While Yoshino carefully sources the clay, Hosokawa works alongside young Bizen craftspeople to shape each pot. Today, the workshop produces two main series of plant pots: one made with recycled Bizen ware clay, and another distinguished by its unique turquoise blue color. These pots are the product of the rich connections between people working together through shared expertise and trust.
Recycled Bizen
A second life for ceramics. Thirty percent of the clay for Hara Seitosho’s hidasuki plant pots comes from broken Bizen ware, sourced from a Bizen City recycling initiative. These ceramic shards are crushed and given a second life as a clay component. It’s a sustainable solution that reduces waste, turning it instead into a valuable resource.
Turquoise Blue
Hara Seitosho collaborator Yoshino mixes pigment into clay at his workshop, Yoshino Dorensha, to achieve a unique turquoise hue. The resulting gray-blue feels cool and contemporary, bringing a new character to traditional Bizen ware.
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