Hakuji Kobo

Unnan City, Shimane Prefecture

Founded in 1984 by Katsuhisa Ishitobi, who trained under Tsuneji Ueda – himself a former assistant to the celebrated potter Kanjiro Kawai. Katsuhisa now works alongside his son Isao. The studio is known for “shinogite,” a technique of carving faceted ridges into the still-soft clay with a blade, and for chamfered (mentori) surfaces – both requiring a steady hand and producing a quietly powerful, refined texture that reflects the influence of the Kawai/Ueda lineage.