Furutani Hirofumi (b. 1948) is a true Shigaraki potter, trained from youth under his father and the inheritor of both tradition and tacit knowledge. After graduating, he worked at a large-scale production kiln, where he mastered firing techniques and clay preparation before returning to the family studio. There, in the deeply Japanese manner of deference, he assumed responsibility for clay preparation and kiln work while his long-lived father devoted himself entirely to shaping clay. Such a role is aptly described by the phrase ennoshita no chikaramochi—the hidden strength supporting everything from beneath the eaves.
More than a decade after the passing of his father, Furutani continues a quiet, daily pursuit of the natural phenomena born from dialogue between soil, flame, and the elements. He oversees kneading, preparing, stacking, and firing the kiln, producing his own works while allowing his son to take the foreground. Eschewing competition and acclaim, he remains devoted to making pots with humility and resolve, steadfastly walking the path of the unknown craftsman.
