Masayuki Miyagi, a ceramic artist based in Nanjo City, Okinawa, has in recent years been challenging himself with creations fired in a noborigama (climbing kiln). Admiring the vessels of his predecessors, he crafts works imbued with unique surfaces shaped by natural ash glaze.

This ninth exhibition will feature a compelling selection, led by tea bowls fired in the noborigama, alongside traditional Okinawan Chuka vessels and Mr. Miyagi’s signature celadon and ash-glazed works. We too are filled with anticipation for what promises to be a remarkable showcase.

As with last year, the exhibition will be held simultaneously at AMAHARE SHIROKANEDAI and KYO AMAHARE. At Shirokanedai, the opening day, Friday, October 10, will be by reservation only, with both Masayuki Miyagi and Aki Miyagi present. At KYO AMAHARE, a special tea gathering, Shoukei, will be held on Saturday, October 11. Both Mr. Miyagi and Ms. Aki will join us for this intimate occasion.

Details for each venue are provided below. We look forward to sharing these eventful four days with you!

---

AMAHARE SHIROKANEDAI

Exhibition Dates
October 10 (Fri) - October 13 (Mon), 2025
- Hours: 13:00 AM - 6:00 PM

Artist On-Site Dates
October 10 (Fri)  

Location
AMAHARE SHIROKANEDAI @amahare_shirokanedai
5-5-2 Shirokanedai, Minato-ku, Tokyo 108-1071
TEL: 03-3280-0766
E-mail: info@amahare.jp

---

KYO AMAHARE

Exhibition Dates
October 10 (Fri) - October 13 (Mon), 2025
- Hours: 11:00 AM - 7:00 PM

Artist On-Site Dates
October 11 (Sat)  

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

---

Notice Regarding Store Visit Reservations (Shirokanedai Only)
On Friday, October 10, “Shirokanedai Amahare” will be open by reservation only.
KYO AMAHARE will be open as usual without reservations.

Reservation Application Period
From Friday, September 26 at 1:00 PM
to Sunday, September 28 at 8:00 PM (JST)

Applications submitted outside this period will not be accepted.

How to Apply
Please send us an email indicating up to three preferred time slots.
Visits will be limited to 30 minutes per group.
Please note that reservations will be determined by lottery, not on a first-come-first-served basis.

Available Time Slots (October 10, Friday)
A: 13:00 – 13:30
B: 14:00 – 14:30
C: 15:00 – 15:30
D: 16:00 – 16:30
E: 17:00 – 17:30  

Required Information in Your Email
Preferred time slot(s) (up to three, labeled with letter + time)
Full name
Phone number
Email address
Reservations are accepted by email only. Please note that we cannot accept applications via phone or social media.

If you are available at any time, please mention so in your message.
Applications with incomplete information will be considered invalid.

Application Email Address
SHIROKANEDAI AMAHARE
info@amahare.jp
Reservations are accepted by email only. Please note that we cannot accept applications via phone or social media.

Notification of Results
Only successful applicants will be contacted by email on Tuesday, September 30.
If you do not receive an email, we regret that we were unable to accommodate your request.
From Saturday, October 11 onward, you may visit without a reservation.
Any changes will be announced via our official social media accounts.

Important Notes
Reservations are limited to one person per entry.
Only the applicant themselves will be admitted. Please apply under your own name.
On the day of your visit, you may be asked to present an ID for verification.

Purchase Limits
To ensure that as many guests as possible may enjoy the collection, purchase quantities may be limited.

Online Sales
Online availability is currently undecided. Details will be announced through our newsletter and social media when finalized.

We sincerely look forward to welcoming you.

Masayuki Miyagi and Aki Miyagi × KYO TEAHOUSE

Tea gathering "Shoukei"

At KYO TEAHOUSE, we will host the tea gathering “Shoukei” on Saturday, October 11, in conjunction with Masayuki Miyagi’s exhibition.
The space and tea utensils will be arranged with Mr. Miyagi’s works to welcome our guests.
On this special occasion, both Masayuki Miyagi and his wife Aki will also join the gathering, making it a truly memorable event.

Tea gathering "Shoukei" @sabo.kyo_amahare

• Vessels: Masayuki Miyagi
• Tea: Kana Ogushi (KYO)
• Sweets: Konbuya Magobei
• Curator: Suguru Tokubuchi of Yorozu
• Guests: Masayuki Miyagi and Aki Miyagi

Date: October 11 (Sat)
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.

Ash-glazed works

While cobalt-painted pottery is often the first image that comes to mind when speaking of Okinawan ceramics, there came a turning point for Masayuki Miyagi, who has since devoted himself to the pursuit of ash glaze. In recent years, he has even received ash from BACAR—a renowned pizzeria in Naha that fires its pizzas in a wood-fired kiln—blending it into his own glazes to bring greater depth and nuance to his works.

Why this dedication to ash glaze? Perhaps it stems from his admiration for Makai (rice bowls) of the Ryukyu Kingdom era, once known as Wakuta ware, which were created with ash glaze. Being born in Okinawa and choosing the path of Okinawan craftsmanship, Miyagi is uniquely able to aspire to and realize this longed-for vision of beauty.

Wood-fired kiln

In modern times, Okinawa is one of the rare regions where wood-fired kiln firing remains especially vibrant. The pottery center of Okinawa, Tsuboya, once relied on wood-fired kilns as the standard. However, with the modernization of Naha, concerns over smoke gradually led to the adoption of gas and oil kilns. Today, wood-fired kilns are primarily built in Yomitan and northern Okinawa, where many potters—both young and experienced—devote themselves to the craft, captivated by the allure of firewood and flame.

Mr. Miyagi, who had long dreamed of wood-firing, finally realized this aspiration when he and his fellow potters acquired a shared noborigama (climbing kiln) in Motobu. This rice bowl was fired in that kiln. As the slip clay transforms within the chamber, each piece emerges with its own distinct and nuanced character. One can almost imagine the smile on Mr. Miyagi’s face as he first removed it from the kiln—a joy that naturally resonates with us as well.

Celadon works

Miyagi creates not only works inspired by traditional Okinawan forms but also vessels suited to contemporary living. His new celadon bowl is particularly striking, with the glaze pooling beautifully along the rim and base, captivating anyone who gazes upon it. One of Miyagi’s true charms is his ability to evoke a sense of longing and admiration in those who use his pieces.

Chawan

Before coming to AMAHARE SHIROKANEDAI, Miyagi always stops by the renowned soba restaurant Rian in Shirokanedai. I once asked him, “Why do you like places like soba shops or red-lantern izakayas—so typically Tokyo?” He replied, “Perhaps because I have an admiration for Japanese culture.” I was surprised at first, but then I thought, indeed, that makes sense.

For over twenty years, I have held a deep admiration for Okinawan craftsmanship and the culture behind it. That is precisely why I continue to engage with Okinawan craft; the more I immerse myself in it, the more captivated I become. For me, Okinawa is a land of longing. Hearing Miyagi express the same sentiment, having been born and raised there, fills me with joy.

I imagine that this tea bowl is one of the works through which Miyagi channels his admiration for Japanese culture. Through craft, people and objects from different cultural backgrounds have always been able to connect—a precious truth that remains unchanged. As I gaze upon the bowl, with its beautiful texture shaped by the wood-fired kiln, these thoughts deepen.

We warmly welcome you to experience Miyagi’s works, in which the natural world nurtures a sense of longing, at AMAHARE.



Photo / Yuka Yanazume @yuka_yanazume
Styling / Megu Okazaki（AMAHARE）
Text / Kenichi Kaneko（AMAHARE）@amahare_kaneko