I was born in a small town in the Shizuoka prefecture in Japan between the industrial cities of Tokyo and Osaka. My town was modern, but I was always was surrounded by nature. I lived between the mountains and the ocean. From my childhood I have been making small objects from different materials such as fabric, beads or paper. Creating traditional Japanese crafts was also a big part of my life in Japan. Although the traditional ways were inspirational to me I also found them at times frustrating and constraining.

In 1998 I came to New York to open my mind and look beyond the traditional perimeters to see new ideas and to look at life from a new context. Living in New York brought out a need to reconnect with my childhood. So I began to work with clay. Ceramic ware is a big part of Japanese daily life. The plate or bowl becomes an important part of the presentation and even taste of the food. I wanted my work to be part of a daily routine and possibly influence a person's thought too. So I began concentrating on creating small table pieces that become intimate parts of their life. Recently I have created a series of flower vases and plates for Basta Pasta, a restaurant in Chelsea Manhattan.

My work itself is inspired from my hometown and my fascination with the juxtaposition of contemporary design and the natural backdrop of the rocky cliffs of the mountains and the fluidness of the sea. I work primarily in high fire stoneware with limited use of glaze. I like to contrast rough surfaces with smooth ones. Since 1999, I have been

working with an American potter, Mary Ann Davis. She creates contemporary forms with glaze only on the interior of her forms. She has influenced my work and me. I am now contemplating how I can create the same intimacy while working on larger more complicated forms and compositions.