Fujiwara Akira is a young potter born in Nara in 1981. He studied under the Bizen-yaki potter named Fujimi Shun-ichi after having worked in a Shigaraki-yaki pottery workshop for three years.
Producing pieces since 2008, his works display creativity. Not only does he use typical Bizen clay, but he also uses a wide variety of very rough clays dug up directly from the area around his studio. In addition, he makes full use of the different possibilities and firing techniques offered by wood kilns.

This large matcha bowl, which evokes stone, was created using a “hikidashi bizen” firing technique. First, the bowl was taken out of the kiln when the piece was glowing red during firing. Then, it was quickly cooled by applying ash to the surface.