Issui Pottery

Yomitan Village on the central west coast of Okinawa is one of the best known areas for Yachimun, the local word for pottery. Issui Pottery is located in the Nagahama district, near the sea but slightly set back in a quiet neighborhood. The studio and shop, with a blue building and a white container unit, welcome both locals and travelers who are exploring the pottery culture of Yomitan.

After traveling through various countries including India and Thailand, Shinya Takahata encountered pottery as a form of handcraft directly connected to everyday life. He trained in traditional Tsuboya-style pottery at a kiln in Yomitan and decided to pursue ceramics seriously. In 2005 he became independent and launched Issui Pottery, choosing to focus on tableware that people touch every day and that can quietly change the atmosphere of a room.

The pieces of Issui Pottery are not bound by a single motif or narrative. Instead, the creative process is guided by an intuitive response at the moment of opening the kiln. Only items that make the maker feel “This is cool” or “This is cute” are selected. Over time, this has led to a rich vocabulary of patterns and series such as Casablanca, Stripe, Yuragi, Prism, Bonbon, Soda, Balloon, Chelsea, Gossu Marumon and more, which can be seen throughout the online store and the shop.

Through the online store, Issui Pottery ships its work across Japan, while the studio shop in Nagahama offers the pleasure of seeing and touching the pieces directly. Because all items are handmade by a small team, restocks cannot be scheduled precisely, and each restocking feels like a limited-time encounter. This makes finding a favorite plate or cup all the more special for customers.

At the heart of Issui Pottery is the wish to express something that cannot be fully put into words and to move people emotionally through the work. The pieces are made by hand, but what truly matters is the unseen feeling behind them – the sense of calm, joy or warmth they bring to everyday moments. A single plate or cup from Issui Pottery can slightly shift the mood of a meal, turning an ordinary day into a small, memorable occasion.

A seaside studio and shop in Nagahama, Yomitan

Issui Pottery is based in the Nagahama area of Yomitan Village, a region known for its long tradition of Okinawan pottery called “Yachimun.” The studio and shop sit in a quiet residential neighborhood a short walk from the coast, with a blue building for the kiln and a white container-style shop. Visitors can drop by between 9:00 and 17:00 to see the pieces in person and choose their favorites.

Founded in 2005 after training in traditional Tsuboya-style pottery

Potter Shinya Takahata traveled through places such as India and Thailand after finishing school and eventually encountered ceramics as a craft that is closely tied to daily life. After training at a kiln in Yomitan, he became independent in 2005 and founded Issui Pottery. While the pieces are certainly functional tableware, the aim is to create objects that are more than just tools – items that carry a feeling beyond simple utility.

Playful patterns and colors born from a sense of “cool” and “cute”

Rather than working from fixed themes, Takahata relies on the immediate feeling when opening the kiln – whether a piece feels cool, cute or simply right. This intuitive approach results in a wide range of designs and patterns: Casablanca, Stripe, Yuragi, Prism, Bonbon, Soda, Balloon and more. The vivid yet gentle colors bring an uplifting accent to everyday meals.