Nagoya Pottery Painting Workshop (Oil-Based Technique) held on April 25, 2026!

The 36th Japanese Culture Experience Workshop was held this spring. The flowers of cherry blossoms on works brightened up the venue.

The participants ranged widely from a child to senior. The instructor was Ms. Hitomi Sugiyama.

She has lived in Italy for 10 years and learned the western techniques for pottery

at an art school. After returning to Japan, she started researching the technique of Nagoya pottery painting. Since 2013, she has worked to preserve and pass the traditions on to the next generation.

At first, she explained about the history of Nagoya pottery painting and the tools for it.

Oil-Based Technique is the technique that uses paints mixed with oil. 

Since Meiji era, the pottery industry for export has developed in Nagoya. The prompt and accurate drawing of the craftmanship and the simplification of firing process enabled mass production.

We also learned about that craftsmen were gathered from all over Japan, and that several techniques have been created, which are collectively called Nagoya pottery painting, as well as people in Nagoya are proud of Nagoya pottery painting.

Ms. Sugiyama’s demonstration！

The design of the work featured cherry blossoms. It suits this season perfectly! She gave a demonstration how to put paints on the brush, make gradation, erase a few spots after painting and so on.

Let’s experience Nagoya Pottery Painting！

Since she drew the draft on white potteries in advance, we were able to paint on it at ease.

Let’s try holding a flat brush!

It was much more difficult to paint than I expected, especially to create gradations. We concentrated on painting and enjoyed the conversation with people around us. We were absorbed in Nagoya pottery painting!

Our painting was finally finished! Even the tools and paints themselves are same, each finished

work has its own impression and uniqueness. Everyone was satisfied with the workshop!

It’s finished！

After the workshop, Ms. Sugiyama took our works home and fired them to complete. They were fired by slowly raising the temperature over 2 hours up to 1472 degrees Fahrenheit and keeping it for 10 minutes. Then they were let cool over 8 hours and it’s finished!

I’m very satisfied with the workshop! We were able to not only lean the history of Nagoya pottery and its technique, but also create our own works using the technique. I’ll use my own cup in a daily life!

Thank you very much for your participation!