On Sept. 22, the vessels still warm from the bisque-firing were taken out of the kiln, and we applied the glaze with the participants.
The students showed them how to apply the glaze and, although in the beginning they were rather cautious with the glaze, as they got used to it, they became more creative, and used a different color for the rim or drew designs. It is the students that need to be inspired by their creativity!
There were 3 colors of glazes this time. At this point, they all looked the same color, but beautiful colors will appear after the glost firing. Everyone is very much looking forward to the unloading of the kiln on the 28th. (Akagi)

Sept. 19, the well-dried vessels have been carefully placed in the kiln and the bisque-firing has begun.
Next, looking forward to applying the glaze on the 22nd! (Akagi)

On Sept. 8, the 2nd meeting of the Yui Project was held at Tsukuba University. Cups and bowls were created by pressing the clay into the molds created at the previous session.
The task was a bit difficult, such as cutting the clay into equal-size sheets, carefully removing the clay from the mold and adjusting the shapes, but everyone worked hard and seriously.
People cheered when the clay was removed from the molds, discussed with their partners when deciding on the shape of the cups and bowls, and finally when the bases were attached to them, the work was done. Each tableware is unique, but each one turned out to be a wonderful piece of work as the opening of the vessel matched perfectly with one’ partner’s.
When the clay is thoroughly dry, the process will continue with the bisque-firing, glazing and glost firing.
On the 28th, the final product will come out of the kiln. We are looking forward to the meal where everyone will be eating off the dishes that they have created.
(Akagi)

On September 1st, the first session of the Pottery of Yui Project was held at the University of Tsukuba. People who have moved to Tsukuba to live from places like Haramachi-ku and Odaka-ku in Minami-Soma City, Futaba-gun in the town of Futaba, and the towns of Nahara, Tomioka and Namie, as well as Iwaki City, participated in the project. The participants divided into two teams: those from Odaka-ku in Minami-Soma City, and those from Futaba and other places. They cooperated with each other to make the casts for the cups and bowls, and the two halves of the mold. The task was completed thanks to the cooperative communication between the supporting students and the participants.
For the second session on September 8th next week, the participants will use the molds they create to make cups and bowls. We are then planning to hold a lunch party on September 28th (Saturday), where everyone can use the pottery they’ve made to eat a meal with Hojo rice from Tsukuba. It was still very hot when we held the session, but the day was over before we knew it. When we want to create and shape something, we always need to discuss things and share advice with each other. This is true for making things from clay, as well as in other situations. The participants chatted naturally about their current situation, what it was like to evacuate, and of course the nuclear disaster. While sharing these stories, they experienced an out of the ordinary task of creation. I was very happy to hear them say they were having fun. The Hojo rice we will use at the lunch party will be sourced with the help of the students active in Hojo-ku, Tsukuba City, as members of “Crappe” (Facebook Crappe Diary.) (Saito)