The pure form of neriage, wheel throwing with coloured clay, is beautifully demonstrated in the works of Tsuneharu Tanaka. Focusing on the seemingly infinite variety of vase shapes, he has also incorporated an appealing surface texturing technique into his production style. A typical piece starts out as a vertical stack of discs made from three types of clays, black/gray with white, or red/browns with white, which are then centered and compressed on the wheel. The resulting cylindrical form is then opened up with a “sasibou” wooden tool. Traditional throwing techniques are used to create the final form. When the clay is leather hard it is scraped with a metal rib to bring out the swirling multi-clay patterning distinctive of neriage and then textured with a metal tool, the “tobikanna” as the wheel is turning. In English this type of texture is called “chattering”. This texturing adds yet another dimension to Tanaka’s work and has become his signature style.

In 2020 Tanaka suspended classroom operations and instead started his own pottery production activities. In this relatively short time he has carved out a niche for himself in the highly competitive Japanese ceramics world.

Tanaka writes:  “I am deeply grateful to have encountered pottery, to be fascinated by it and to have it as part of my life. Through my work, I feel great joy in being in contact with people from all over the world, and I will continue to use this as a source of inspiration for my creative activities.”

The Art of Colored Clay Written by Thomas Hoadley