I once heard that if everyone enriches their immediate 5-meter radius, the whole world will inevitably become richer. My journey into pottery began with a desire for self-expression—to find my own style and create shapes no one had ever seen. As more people gathered at ONE KILN, my motivation evolved into a desire to create pieces that could bring happiness to everyone.

I have known Jin from Akihiro Woodworks since high school, and in 2007, the year before I started ONE KILN, we held an exhibition together. At that event, Jin showcased what would later become the prototype for 'jincup,' known then as 'A cup,' which he originally created as a birthday present for his mother during his financially tough apprentice years. Jin seemed to already possess the '5-meter radius' awareness that I lacked at the time. Even then, I had the idea that it might be interesting to translate woodwork into pottery, but it remained unrealized—perhaps due to a difference in our focuses between self-expression and community impact.

The 'jincup' has since become a popular product, but it takes five years to dry the wood used and production is limited. Hearing Jin talk about the difficulty of turning down numerous inquiries because he cannot produce enough was heart-wrenching, which spurred the development of this project.

The realization of 'jincup ceramics' now, nearly two decades later, may signify that my focus has gradually aligned with Jin's mindset.

The original 'jincup' is crafted using Magnolia wood.

'jincup ceramics' considers production and distribution, created with the help of artisans in Hasami.

'jincup cultivate' is a limited production using ONE KILN's Bonotsu clay.

Akihiro Woodworks has this in its concept:

'Creating good products increases the number of people who use good products. Continuing this process is the only thing we believe we can do to create a better future. It's a journey to find the standards for good products, for ourselves and for you.'

We believe that by enriching our immediate surroundings through craftsmanship, we can deliver happiness to more people. As we chase this dream, our friendship continues.

'jincup cultivate' will be available for sale on April 29th at 10 AM at onekiln.jp.

Please visit the link below: https://onekiln.jp/search/akihiro-woodworks

※ For sales information regarding 'jincup ceramics,' please refer to the Instagram account @akihirowoodworks."