In pottery making, how the clay is baked determines everything, as the Japanese word for pottery, Yakimono (In Japanese "yaki" in "yakimono" means bake.) indicates. The warmth unique to earthenware is given birth in a climbing kiln. The pieces are fired with red pine logs for tens of hours, during which the flame and the ash work their magic to create various effects. It's my pleasure to submit for your viewing the Nobi brand of Hagi ware which has its roots in the 400 year Hagi-yaki tradition kept alive by many admirers. Shigemoto Nobi (from the Invitation to his exhibition)

Teabowl: EKUBO (Smile with Dimples)
Works: 1 Teabowl with ash glaze, YUYAKE(Red Sunset) 2 Flower vase with white glaze, TENZAN(Mt.Ten) 3 Teabowl, NAGAREGUMO(Stray Cloud) 4 Flower vase with ash glaze 5 Jar

The Origin of Nobi Kiln

By Shigemoto Nobi, Hagi-yaki potter, pottery owner

At the end of 16th century, Toyotomi Hideyoshi, after uniting war-torn Japan, sent troops to Korea in the Wars of Bunroku and Keicho era.

At that time in Japan, the Cha-no-yu (tea ceremony or simply tea) was very popular among the war lords, as it was with the prior dictator Oda Nobunaga. It also was the period when tea master Sen no Rikyu became influential, establishing artistic standards and social etiquette through Cha-no-yu.

Mohri Terumoto, who was sent to Korea by Toyotomi Hideyoshi, was one of those war lords who enjoyed Cha-no-yu. One might ask what tea offered to the war lords amidst their daily business of battle. It was near the end of a prolonged civil war era. Each must have wondered; will I bring down the enemy and become the first one to score a victory tomorrow at the battlefield, or am I doomed to die? In such moments, did a dose of tea help calm their nerves? Perhaps a bowl of tea offered a unique moment in which they could face themselves.

The war lords eagerly obtained the finest tea bowls. There are many famous antique tea bowls that acquired fame in that period.

Mohri Terumoto came back from Korea with two potters, Ri Shakko and Ri Kei. To have them produce tea bowls of his liking, Lord Mohri had a kiln built in his castle town, Hagi. According to the legend, this was the beginning of Hagi-yaki pottery. How delightful a war lord he was to bring back potters just to have the finest tea bowls. That was a long time ago, some 400 years.

After studying pottery making under master potter Harada Ryuho for 2 years, I set up my kiln in the wilderness of Hanagawara mountain in August, 1990. There is no special story behind my kiln, only that I have made it my life's work to create a tea bowl that would satisfy those ancient war lords.

Here in the wilderness of Hanagawara mountain, it is almost painful at times to be surrounded by nature in its full splendor. In spring I can hear plants and flowers breathe. In summer I gaze at fish swim in a stream. In autumn I enjoy the stormy sound of insects with my whole body. And in winter the stars fill the frozen sky while shooting stars streak away. It is in this wilderness that I devote myself to perfecting Nobi brand of Hagi-yaki pottery.

The Nobi kiln follows an old Japanese tradition of the climbing kiln which uses pine logs for firing. A climbing kiln has a series of firing chambers. Old records show that a kiln with as many as 50 chambers was once built. The Nobi kiln has three firing chambers and it takes three days to complete the firing.

NOBI Shigemoto: Profile and Credit

September, 1943 Born in Yamaguchi-shi.

January, 1969 Learned photo journalism and became an independent photographer.

May, 1969 Went to South Vietnam and photographed the battle front for four months.

October, 1969 Photo Exhibition: [South Vietnam, They Are Alive] at Ginza-Mitubishi Gallery.

April, 1970 [Children of South Vietnam] published in Bungei Shunju (monthly magazine).

May, 1970 Went to US, worked as a studio assistant.

April, 1975 Opened Nobi & Wargner Studio at 20 5th Ave., New York, NY.

January, 1978 Moved to Honolulu, Hawaii.

May, 1980 Returned Home, Photo Exhibition: [Kilauea Hawaii] at Ginza-Nagase Photo Salon.

June, 1980 [The Guy Who Likes Alcohol and Women] published in Sharaku (monthly magazine).

July, 1981 [New York Anarchy] (15 piece series) published in Shukan-Asahi-Gurafu (weekly Magazine).

June, 1982 The New Talent Award from Nippon Shashin Kyoukai (Japan Photography Association).

July, 1983 Photo Collection [New York Anarchy] published from Asahi Shinbun.

June, 1984 Established Free Eizo (film) Production, Ltd.

August, 1984 to June 1987 Reports on [Devil's Night (from Detroit)], [Miami Drug War ], [Chicago Police 24 Hours], and [Michigan State Prison] were aired on TV Asahi's [News Station].

October, 1987 Went to study pottery under Hagi-yaki Master Harada Ryuho.

October, 1990 Built Nobi Kiln.

September, 1992 First Pottery Exhibition: [Hagi-yaki by Nobi Shigemoto] at The Tokyo-Shinjuku-Mitsukoshi Department Store, held annually since.

December, 1998 Died.