It all started with Geoff. Initially, it was a collaboration project between me and artist Geoffrey Fisher. We planned to  develop a range of objects made of ceramic and wood. 

The inspirations for the project came about, through correspondences between me and Geoff in Autumn 2022, about questioning functionality of an object. Also, his suggestion of making a cup with a hole, resonated with my memory of my hometown of Kochi, in Japan. Such a cup already exists there, a vessel for drinking sake (fermented alcohol made of rice). It is called ‘beku-hai’, which means, a cup one can not put down. Once the sake is poured, you have to finish drinking while closing the hole with a finger. 

While a hole in ‘beku-hai’ is usually placed at the bottom of the cup, and forces one to close the hole with a finger, my cup doesn’t force the act of closing a hole. It merely invite the user to locate and touch a hole, a tactile act, and the cup can be put down in between drinking. I further pursued this concept of beku hai and ended up making a twirling cup, which reminded me of my mother who was a ballet dancer. 

I developed a wood ash glaze recipe for this project, using the wood ash made from the off cuts of wood from Geoff’s studio where he made his artworks in various wood, including locally sourced coppiced wood from Chiltern hills, where he grew up and resided. Gentle outlines of verdant hills reminded me the landscape of my hometown.

Geoff told me around that time, that we owe it to the people who brought us into this world. Everyone is equal, it’s just that we all have different experience, that’s all. He embraced life, both good and bad. He said, it’s simple, to love, and to be loved. 

I didn't quite understand what he meant then, but I think I understand him better now.

A lot happened since then, but no matter what, I know for sure that it was a life changing experience for me, to have met Geoff. 

He showed me, love, kindness, and resilience. He became my person, a ray of sunshine and a moonlight.

Geoff is omnipresent, I see him everywhere, in many things, catkins, paper moon, a pool of sunshine on grass, serendipities and happy encounters. 

March 2026