Thursday, April 30, 2009

National Living Treasure

Yesterday Jamie and I met one of the "National Living Treasures" of Japan! His name is Manji Inoue, and he is a porcelain master. His larger pieces sell for just under $20,000!

You can look at some of his masterpieces here.


We met him at his studio/showroom in Arita, Saga-ken while we were out with Naoko sensei and Nakano san for a long over due "Girls Day." He was standing out front when we approached and asked me where I was from. When I said "Arizona," he commented on the hot weather and the large size of the airport in Phoenix. He then told us he has made some 18 trips to New Mexico to give special lectures, and often has to change planes in Los Angeles and Phoenix. Just as he was about to disappear into the backroom, we snagged him for a photo.
As Naoko sensei would say, it was "amazing" that we got a chance to meet him!

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