Large White Hineri Dimple Kyusu Teapot

Maki Nakahara is a ceramic artist based in Nagasaki and the maker behind Ichida Studio. Originally from Chiba, she studied design, worked in interior design, and later trained in major ceramic regions including Seto and the Hizen area, particularly Arita and Hasami, where she learned the porcelain techniques that anchor her practice.

After working in the Strategy and Design Department of the Nagasaki Ceramics Technology Center, Nakahara became independent, bringing together three guiding pillars: design, tradition, and cutting-edge technology. Her design background lends her work architectural clarity and a focus on comfort in everyday use. Her training in regional traditions shapes her sensitivity to form, proportion, and the luminous white surface of Amakusa porcelain. Her openness to digital tools, including 3D printing, scanning, and CAD/CAM, allows her to work fluidly across handcrafted pieces, prototypes, and small-scale industrial production.

At Ichida Studio, she creates tableware and objects that begin as “shapeless lumps of clay,” each intended to become a quiet, uplifting presence in someone’s life. She produces original handmade works, develops prototypes, undertakes custom-made industrial projects, and also teaches, plans exhibitions, and contributes to community craft initiatives. Her kyusu teapots, in particular, are noted for their balanced forms, smooth surfaces, and thoughtful usability.

Nakahara has exhibited widely in Japan and abroad, receiving recognition including a Skills Prize at the Kyushu–Yamaguchi Ceramics Exhibition. From 2020 to 2024, she also ran gallery-shop CRANE in Nagasaki, supporting local craft through exhibitions, workshops, and shared creative space.

Today, she continues to develop work that bridges Hizen porcelain traditions with contemporary design, creating ceramics that feel understated, essential, and enduring.