Mr. Masahiro Sakakura, born in Nagato in 1983, represents the next generation ceramic artists at the Sakakura Shinbei-gama Kiln, a Fukawa-Hagi kiln with nearly 360 years of history. He studied Sculpture at the Tokyo University of the Arts and completed traditional industry specialist training in the Kyoto City. Mr. Sakakura pursues unique expression in clay of various characteristics. Besides traditional Hagi clay such as Daido-tsuchi, he also uses clay that he collects himself close to home to create his work. One can directly feel nature’s breath through touching his pieces.