Program Overview

Introduction to the Tokyo Tech Pottery Camp

The Tokyo Tech Pottery Camp was an educational program organized by the Tokyo Tech Museum and Archives, in collaboration with the Department of Inorganic Materials in the School of Engineering and the Tokyo Tech High School of Science and Technology. The program aimed to provide students with the opportunity to acquire a fresh perspective on manufacturing processes through firsthand experience with pottery.

Learning the Processes of Manufacturing

The program was designed to introduce participants to the design process, including theory, planning, production, and evaluation. The Pottery Camp was divided into six phases, allowing participants to experience various manufacturing processes related to pottery.

Phase 1: Planning

The program began with lectures on the basics of pottery manufacturing, including the relationship between Tokyo Tech and Mashiko Town, and the manufacturing processes of pottery. Participants studied basic theories for planning and designing their artwork.

Phase 2: Clay Work 1 - Using Molds and Hand Building

Participants started potting with molds and shaping clay by hand at Tokyo Tech's Ookayama Campus. They demonstrated their creativity by making patterns on or attaching handles to their pieces.

Phase 3: Clay Work 2 - Potter's Wheel

Participants moved to Mashiko Town and stayed there for three days and two nights to throw pots on a potter's wheel. They visited the Shoji Hamada Memorial Mashiko Sankokan Museum and the Tsukamoto Pottery Studio.

Phase 4: Foot Trimming and Biscuit Firing

Before biscuit firing, participants trimmed the foot of their bowls and finalized the shape of their pots. The pieces were then left to dry and fired in an electric kiln.

Phase 5: Glazing and Firing in a Climbing Kiln

Participants gathered again in Mashiko Town to glaze their pieces and load them into a climbing kiln. They controlled the amount of firewood and oxygen during firing, watching the temperature in the kiln.

Phase 6: Unloading the Kiln and Presentations

The final phase involved unloading the climbing kiln and presenting the finished pieces. Participants reported on their experiences in the program, and local people were invited to hear their presentations.

The Fruits of Pottery Camp and Future Developments

The Pottery Camp aimed to provide students with the opportunity to acquire a fresh perspective on manufacturing processes. The program was supported by the Cultivating Human Resources for Manufacturing program, a program of the Tokyo Institute of Technology Foundation. The pots and pieces of artwork created during the program were displayed at the Tokyo Tech's Pottery Camp exhibition.

Pottery Instructors and Collaborators

The program was supported by several pottery instructors and collaborators, including Hiroshi Murata, Haruka Murata, Yoshinori Hagiwara, Kei Shimaoka, Masayoshi Otsuka, and Seiichi Otsuka.

Academic Advisors and Administrative Staff

The program was advised by several academic advisors, including Hiroyuki Kamei, Shin-ichi Okuyama, Shigehisa Hirose, Tatsumasa Doke, Koichi Endo, and Takayuki Ako. The administrative staff included Sumie Onoda, Miyuki Sato, Satoko Okaji, Michiko Watari, and Mariko Shibuya.