KYO AMAHARE is pleased to present its first solo exhibition by ceramic artist Naotsugu Yoshida.
Yoshida describes his creative pursuit as the “C point”—a realm that exists between craft and art.
From the faint light that emerges beyond the shadows cast by his works, one can sense the quiet depth of his vision.

Elegant forms of vases, tea bowls, tea caddies, water jars, and tableware reveal subtle nuances of black, gray, and white.
We invite you to experience the serene atmosphere born from the meeting of Yoshida’s “Shadow and Beyond” and KYO.

We look forward to welcoming you to the gallery.  

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Exhibition Dates
November 7 (Fri) - November 18 (Tue), 2025
- No reservation required
- Closed on Wednesdays
- Hours: 11:00 AM - 7:00 PM

Artist On-Site Dates
November 7       

Location
KYO AMAHARE @kyo_amahare
127 Aburaya-cho, Nakagyo-ku, Kyoto 604-8063
TEL: 075-256-3280
E-mail: kyo@amahare.jp

Naotsugu Yoshida × KYO TEAHOUSE

Tea gathering "Kage"

In conjunction with Naotsugu Yoshida’s upcoming exhibition opening on Friday, November 7,
KYO TEAHOUSE will host a special tea gathering titled “Kage.”

The space and tea utensils will feature Yoshida’s works, creating a serene atmosphere to welcome our guests.
Yoshida himself will also take part in the gathering, making it a truly special occasion.

Please enjoy this one-day-only tea experience—an encounter with thoughtful arrangements and a carefully curated menu.

Tea gathering "Kage" @sabo.kyo_amahare

• Vessels: Naotsugu Yoshida
• Tea: Yurika Kanemitsu (KYO)
• Sweets: Konbuya Magobei
• Curator: Suguru Tokubuchi of Yorozu
• Guests: Naotsugu Yoshida

Date: November 7 (Fri)
Time: 3:00 PM - 5:00 PM
Venue: KYO TEAHOUSE

Admission: 7,700 yen (tax included)
Reservations: Available Here

Payment: Please complete payment via online credit card at the time of reservation.
Note: Cancellations within 24 hours of the event will incur a 100% cancellation fee.

Enjoy the unique ambiance and thoughtfully curated menu created exclusively for this special evening.

Photo / Eri Masuda @massu_90
Text / Kenichi Kaneko（AMAHARE）@amahare_kaneko

Light yet Profound

When I share casual conversations with Mr. Yoshida, I often find him to be a person of lightness and ease. When he first became independent, he began his creative journey working primarily in “black.” Today, his works extend to “white” and “gray,” as he continues to create with a sense of freedom, unbound by form or function—whether it be tableware, vases, or tea utensils.

Of course, there must be moments of struggle—the pain of creation, the limitations he once imposed on himself through color, and the challenges of independence. Yet, from the forms of his works, one can feel a certain lightness, while the textures and tones reveal a depth that speaks of his years of exploration and refinement.

This exhibition, which seems to mirror Mr. Yoshida himself, promises to be one filled with quiet anticipation and grace.

Implements for Tea

When I first met Mr. Yoshida, he was already creating tea bowls. Even back then, they possessed such an elegant presence that one couldn’t help but be captivated. His work has long been cherished by tea practitioners, and each time one of his bowls found its way into someone’s hands, I would quietly nod to myself, thinking, “Yes, of course—how could it be otherwise.”

During one of my later visits to his studio, Mr. Yoshida shared with delight, “I’ve acquired a kiln fired by charcoal, so now I can explore a wider range of expressions in my tea bowls.” The visual for the tea gathering “Kage” also features a bowl fired in this very charcoal kiln. One wonders whose hands will come to hold this bowl, with its beautifully mended surface and serene landscape. Among the many highlights of this exhibition is the rare opportunity to see tea utensils such as tea bowls, fresh water jars, and tea caddies gathered together in one place.

C Point

When Mr. Yoshida spoke of his pursuit of a point he calls “C Point”—a place that is neither craft nor art—I was struck by a quiet realization.

About three years ago, we began an initiative under a new name, AMART. Since the pandemic, we’ve often heard from artists who primarily make craft objects—especially vessels—say things like, “I also want to create objects to be contemplated and appreciated, but it’s hard to find a place for such works within exhibitions centered on functional pieces.”
It was from this desire to offer a space for such creations that AMART was born—an initiative we defined as “art that extends from craft,” in contrast to AMAHARE, which focuses on craft itself.

But when I heard Yoshida-san’s idea of “C point,” I paused and thought—is it really necessary to separate the two at all? Perhaps it is precisely this ambiguity, so deeply rooted in Japanese sensibility, and the act of moving freely within that in-between space, that gives Japanese craftsmanship its depth.

While we will continue our work through AMART, Yoshida-san’s words offered a valuable opportunity to reflect on its meaning and purpose.

The piece in this photograph—a mug—seems to embody Yoshida-san’s “C-point.” The delicately drawn ridge line of its rim, the subtle rippling surface that recalls gentle waves—each conveys the quiet equilibrium between utility and art that lies at the heart of his creation.

Shadow and Beyond

A tea caddy that rests gently in the palm—its quiet shadow touched by a hint of light.
Whether the work is small or large, a vessel or a tea utensil, Yoshida-san’s creations always carry the same presence, the same subtle atmosphere that lingers in their shadow and beyond.

We invite you to experience “Kage to Sono Saki”—The Shadow and Beyond—unfolding within the 130-year-old Kyoto townhouse.
We look forward to welcoming you and sharing this tranquil, luminous world with you.