Studio Oak Pottery

Studio Oak is a pottery studio run by potter Hiroyuki Onuki in Kasama, Ibaraki Prefecture, a region known as one of the historic centres of Kasama ware. According to the studio's website, it develops four brands that cover both everyday tableware and interior ceramics, aiming to offer pieces that can be used and enjoyed in daily life as well as works that enrich living spaces.

The Monotone Series is one of the studio's main lines. It features simple, modern shapes with a combination of an ink-like black glaze and an ivory-white matte glaze. Pieces such as free cups, mugs, and cup-and-saucer sets are introduced on online tableware shops as items that match both Japanese and Western styles. Because the black patterns are applied by hand, no two pieces are exactly the same, giving each item a one-of-a-kind look.

The Saijiki line, another key series, is described as a body of work that uses seasonal plants as motifs and expresses them through line inlay and coloured overglaze techniques. The series includes sake ware, tea ware, jars, vases, and ceramic panels, and new works are often presented at solo exhibitions before being sold at galleries and shops in Kasama, such as Gallery Mon and Kasama Craft Hills, as well as through the online shop.

Studio Oak also plans and develops other lines, including "On.," which focuses on collaborations with artists and creators from different fields, and "YUUKI," a series produced by Yukiko Onuki. Through these brands, the studio explores new possibilities for ceramics while maintaining a strong connection to Kasama's pottery tradition.

Hiroyuki Onuki was born in Ibaraki Prefecture and originally studied graphic design at Tokyo Zokei University. After working in the design field, he studied at Kasama Ceramic Art College and trained under a potter in Mashiko before establishing his own studio in Kasama in the mid-1990s. His background in graphic design can be seen in the careful use of line, pattern, and composition in the Monotone Series and Saijiki works. Today, Studio Oak continues to present its pieces through solo and group exhibitions, galleries, online shops, and online pottery fairs.

Four brands from everyday tableware to interior ceramics

Studio Oak describes itself as a pottery studio that develops four brands ranging from everyday tableware to interior ceramics. The Monotone Series focuses on simple, modern pieces for daily use, Saijiki features works with floral motifs, On. explores collaborations with artists and creators in other fields, and YUUKI presents pieces made by Yukiko Onuki.

Monotone Series inspired by Japanese calligraphy

The Monotone Series is inspired by the flowing brushwork of Japanese calligraphy and the colour of blue-black ink. The pieces combine a deep, ink-like black glaze with an ivory-white matte glaze, creating a simple yet striking contrast. Items such as free cups, mugs, and cup-and-saucer sets are designed to match both Japanese and Western-style tables, with each black pattern applied by hand so that every piece has a unique expression.

Saijiki: seasonal flowers expressed with inlay and overglaze decoration

Saijiki is a series of works by Hiroyuki Onuki that depict seasonal plants and flowers using line inlay and coloured overglaze decoration. The range includes sake ware and tea ware for daily use as well as vases and ceramic panels that bring colour to interior spaces. Additional variations such as Byakusai-ki, which features patterns on a mainly white ground, and Bokusai-ki, which evokes ink painting, further expand the studio's expressive possibilities.