Japan Diaries;
Cultivating Equanimity
Pottery with Masako Nakagmi
On our journey to Kyoto, we had the pleasure of meeting Masako Nakagami, a talented pottery artist born and raised in this historic city. Masako’s passion for pottery began when she was in primary school, and she has been shaping her artistic vision ever since.
Her home, nestled in a tranquil rural area just outside Kyoto, is surrounded by peaceful bamboo groves and lush vegetable gardens. She warmly welcomed us, showed us around, and shared her various collections and unique pieces. One of her key themes is creating healing and relaxing spaces, often through her ceramic lighting and tableware.
The art of crafting
We also had the unique opportunity to take a private class in Masako’s workshop. She guided us through the process of crafting a piece, emphasising that perfection isn’t the goal in pottery. Rather than focusing on flawless pieces, Masako encouraged us to enjoy the hands-on experience of working with clay. She highlighted that the real joy comes from getting your hands dirty and embracing the creative process. Whether the pieces turned out perfectly or not, the most important thing was to have fun and savour the moment.
Mindfulness: From moment to moment
We visited Ryōsoku-in Temple in Kyoto Ryosokuin was founded in 1357, and it is one of the small temples in the pagoda of Kenninji, the head temple of the Rinzai sect of Zen Buddhism, in Kyoto. Here where locals and tourists can learn and practice Zazen meditation. Zazen is a practice in Zen Buddhism that involves sitting in a specific posture, focusing on the breath, and observing thoughts without attachment. It aims to cultivate mindfulness, inner peace, and clarity by bringing the practitioner fully into the present moment.
Zanzen Meditation
During our visit we were guided by Toryo Ito, who is a Zen Buddhist monk residing at Ryosokuin. He believes that the important aspect of zazen is that it ultimately restores one's sensitivity to the reality that human beings are an integral part of nature.
Living in a town often leads to a detachment from the natural world, focusing instead on the individual self. However, he believes it's crucial, no matter where we are, to gradually reconnect with our surroundings. This reconnection should extend not just to the immediate environment but also to the wider community and all the living beings around us.
Japan Diaries; Cultivating Equanimity
Discover the lives of individuals who live in harmony with themselves and the world around them.
Pottery with
Masako Nakagmi
Mindfulness:
From moment to moment
Coming Soon
The art of crafting
We also had the unique opportunity to take a private class in Masako’s workshop. She guided us through the process of crafting a piece, emphasising that perfection isn’t the goal in pottery. Rather than focusing on flawless pieces, Masako encouraged us to enjoy the hands-on experience of working with clay. She highlighted that the real joy comes from getting your hands dirty and embracing the creative process. Whether the pieces turned out perfectly or not, the most important thing was to have fun and savour the moment.
Pottery with Masako Nakagmi
On our journey to Kyoto, we had the pleasure of meeting Masako Nakagami, a talented pottery artist born and raised in this historic city. Masako’s passion for pottery began when she was in primary school, and she has been shaping her artistic vision ever since.
Her home, nestled in a tranquil rural area just outside Kyoto, is surrounded by peaceful bamboo groves and lush vegetable gardens. She warmly welcomed us, showed us around, and shared her various collections and unique pieces. One of her key themes is creating healing and relaxing spaces, often through her ceramic lighting and tableware.
Zazen Meditation
During our visit we were guided by Toryo Ito, who is a Zen Buddhist monk residing at Ryosokuin. He believes that the important aspect of zazen is that it ultimately restores one's sensitivity to the reality that human beings are an integral part of nature.
Living in a town often leads to a detachment from the natural world, focusing instead on the individual self. However, he believes it's crucial, no matter where we are, to gradually reconnect with our surroundings. This reconnection should extend not just to the immediate environment but also to the wider community and all the living beings around us.
Mindfulness: From moment to moment
We visited Ryōsoku-in Temple in Kyoto Ryosokuin was founded in 1357, and it is one of the small temples in the pagoda of Kenninji, the head temple of the Rinzai sect of Zen Buddhism, in Kyoto. Here where locals and tourists can learn and practice Zazen meditation. Zazen is a practice in Zen Buddhism that involves sitting in a specific posture, focusing on the breath, and observing thoughts without attachment. It aims to cultivate mindfulness, inner peace, and clarity by bringing the practitioner fully into the present moment.
The art of crafting
We also had the unique opportunity to take a private class in Masako’s workshop. She guided us through the process of crafting a piece, emphasising that perfection isn’t the goal in pottery. Rather than focusing on flawless pieces, Masako encouraged us to enjoy the hands-on experience of working with clay. She highlighted that the real joy comes from getting your hands dirty and embracing the creative process. Whether the pieces turned out perfectly or not, the most important thing was to have fun and savour the moment.
II. Pottery with Masako Nakagmi
On our journey to Kyoto, we had the pleasure of meeting Masako Nakagami, a talented pottery artist born and raised in this historic city. Masako’s passion for pottery began when she was in primary school, and she has been shaping her artistic vision ever since.
Her home, nestled in a tranquil rural area just outside Kyoto, is surrounded by peaceful bamboo groves and lush vegetable gardens. She warmly welcomed us, showed us around, and shared her various collections and unique pieces. One of her key themes is creating healing and relaxing spaces, often through her ceramic lighting and tableware.