The large 10' x 22' anagama kiln with a 5' ceiling height was built in 1982 using a unique center damper and side by-pass flu design. The firing cycle takes at least 6 months. A smaller 8' x 15' anagama kiln was added in 1995 to shorten that time and allow greater flexibility. Both kilns were built by myself, based on 30 years of experience.

The studio was framed using telephone poles and built in 1982. Over the next 3 years, the house was added using old timber from 3 schools and 10 farm houses. Roofing tiles came from old temples. The final room, a tea house, was completed in 1992, the same year a brick bread oven and smoker were built. A stable sits up on the hill where we have kept a chestnut thoroughbred horse for riding on wooded trails since 1987.

I have four throwing wheels, two of which I made myself.Typically, I use a home-made kick wheel for throwing and paddling.  I also use a 25' hand wheel which I made that spins on the former rear axle of a truck. I prefer the sensitive, quick, and silent response that they give. I also like the rhythm and flow that they lend my work -- they are less tiring, unlike being tethered to a machine.

It takes 3-4 months to split the 10 cords (1000 bundles) of wood for the large kiln, or 2 months to split the 5 cords (500 bundles) for the smaller kiln. From kiln loading to unloading and sorting the work after the firing, it basically requires another full month of work.

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