Akira Miyazawa is a Mashiko ware potter born in Akita Prefecture in 1950. In 1976, he established his own studio in Mashiko, Tochigi Prefecture, and since then has presented his works mainly through solo exhibitions both in Japan and abroad, steadily deepening his personal style. In 1994, he was invited to exhibit at the Asahi Modern Craft Exhibition, and has since continued to participate regularly in major exhibitions and artist-curated shows. He has established his own unique technique called Sekika Zōgan (“layered inlay”). Highly regarded not only for tea ceramics but also for his sculptural objects, his works possess a quiet beauty imbued with poetic sentiment. Through the interplay of clay and handwork, Miyazawa’s creations evoke the rhythms of nature, forming a unique world of expression.

Miyazawa’s works are distinguished by the forms created using his original Sekika Zōgan technique. Eschewing the use of a potter’s wheel, he builds up coils of clay by hand, resulting in sculptural forms. After firing, the surfaces are enhanced with distinctive textures through carving and refilling processes. The hand-built traces remain visible, imparting a natural character that reflects both the passage of time and the making process.

Mashiko ware is pottery produced mainly in Mashiko, Tochigi Prefecture, beginning in 1853 with techniques passed down from Kasama ware. It is known for its thick, rustic forms and warm hues achieved through a variety of glazes, such as persimmon, amber, and straw-white. Valued as durable tableware for everyday use, Mashiko ware became widely known in the early Shōwa period when potter Shōji Hamada built a kiln there, turning Mashiko into a center of the Mingei (folk craft) movement. Today, while maintaining tradition, many younger artists are producing contemporary works, and Mashiko ware continues to be loved across generations as functional vessels for daily life.