A visit to the frying pan man

Apr 5

On our last day in Kansai, we sadly said goodbye to our new favorite neighborhood of Naramachi and our amazing hosts, Akie-san and Akira-san, at Kamunabi Guest House. We loved our stay there and the easy conversations and camaraderie we had in the front cafe over drinks after a day exploring Nara.

But we were also excited to head out to visit Kiyooka Kodo, one of our original artist friends and the man known in some circles as “The Frying Pan Man”. We took the train to Shiga outside of Kyoto, and Kodo-san met us there. We took off on an yet another of our interesting rides up the hills and mountains of Japan where the roads are barely wide enough for one car, let alone two. It was like being in the backseat of a movie, while Ria and Kiyooka chatted in the front seat. I was amazed at the skill of his driving -- a stick shift, of course -- while calmly talking and pulling over to let delivery trucks pass by with what seemed like millimeters to spare, while I gazed at the ever-receding, but gorgeous countryside below.

We’ve known Kodo-san since early in the Japan Suite days. We had just started presenting his creations when the Huffington Post picked up on the story. We remain surprised (and pleased) at the response from the article, so we were really geeked to go see him at his new studio in the hills of Shiga. We were not disappointed. The only regret was that we wished we could spend more time with him there -- but alas, we had a train to catch back to Tokyo.
Kodo-san was a gracious host, full of knowledge, giving us free run of the place and describing all of the processes and different work that he is doing. He now has a much larger, industrial-size kiln at his new studio, and he is still experimenting and working with the nuances of the larger kilns. Here is a glimpse at what we saw that fine morning, which started in Nara and led us to Kodo-san in Shiga.

Japan Suite

Showcasing traditional Japanese crafts and the artisans who create them — their stories and their art in words and visions. Japan’s hand-made crafts have played an integral role in the lives of Japanese for centuries. They are created in response to basic, everyday needs and have long been used in the daily rhythms of life. They come from the earth and from nature, and they are prized for their simplicity and long life. Craftspeople pour their passion, pride and energy into their handiwork, creating objects that can far outlive their creators, but in doing so, they carry on the artist’s legacy. The artisans know their objects can live hundreds of years, and they want to be just as proud of it in 100 years as they are today. So, everyday household items take on a life of their own, their own spirit and their own story. They are unique, one-of-a-kind creations with a character and spirit that grows stronger with regular use. The artist creates the object, but that is just the beginning of the journey. In the hands of its owner, a relationship is created, one that is nurtured across time. Just as we do, these creations will change over time developing new imperfections and new character. Each region and each artisan have their own character. In Japan, this is known as meibutsu. The legacy has been passed down by Japanese artists across time down to today’s craftspeople who are advancing and redefining this tradition. We applaud these artisans, and we strive to support them as they re-interpret the heritage of their predecessors — and we are proud to introduce their work, their stories and the passion they put into their creation here at Japan Suite.

A visit to the frying pan man

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