"I want the tableware to always be one step behind one" says Mr. Totsu.
When you serve food. When you pour a drink. At that moment, the flavor suddenly stands out. The dish gently complements the food and quietly enhances its appeal. He continues to create tableware every day, cherishing the beauty of this "behind the scenes" work.
Nagano Prefecture Scholar Village. He has set up a kiln in a quiet villa area and continues to create. The area is peaceful and surrounded by many people who have retired from work and moved here from the Kanto region, and you can often see people enjoying making things.
I started pottery because somewhere in my heart I had the desire to do something with my hands, and it wasn't through any particular trigger that I was naturally drawn to a job that involved working with clay.
While searching for a school to study ceramics, he aimed for Arita College of Ceramics, but was unable to enroll due to not being able to apply in time. During that time, he worked at the Japan Ceramic Art Club in Tokyo, where he got in touch with clay, and the following year he enrolled at Arita College of Ceramics again. The days he spent with a variety of friends from all over the country, from young high school graduates to working adults who had quit their jobs to study, are still fond memories.
After graduating, he worked at a pottery studio in Arita, and built a kiln in Nagano Prefecture in 1997. He currently holds solo and group exhibitions at galleries around the country, as well as at craft fairs.
His tableware is never one to make a strong statement. When food is placed in the dish and poured into it, it makes the food look delicious. He says that this is the most important thing.
As an extension of the craftsmanship we have accumulated up until now, we have made small changes and cherished the shapes that naturally emerge. The "Apple Ash" vessels we are introducing this time are made by intentionally adjusting the clay to be coarse.
"It is possible to make it with fine clay, but it will end up being too smooth, so by leaving it a little rough, I create an expression that I think is just right," says Mr. Totsu.
Modest yet with a definite presence, this piece will instantly enhance the table setting every time you pick it up.
The appearance of Kohiki pottery changes the longer it is used. This is also one of the scenes that time has marked. As the pottery changes over time, it may gradually become integrated into the life of the person who uses it. 
Don't worry, take it slow...
Kohiki is attractive for its soft white appearance.
And apple ash vessels that evoke natural scenery.
Although each has its own unique personality, they all blend seamlessly into your daily life.
The more you use it, the more it will develop a soft, aged appearance.
His pottery quietly organizes everyday moments and gives soft contours to the scenery of daily life.
It enhances the food and makes drinks look delicious, and before you know it, it has become part of the dining table scenery, gently supporting the flavor while standing one step behind the main dish.
This quiet story will slowly unfold from now on.
Keiichiro Totsu's tableware can be found here
