A doorway into the depth and poetry of Japanese craft, led by one of Bizen’s contemporary masters.

Join us for a unique two-day masterclass in Denmark with third-generation Bizen potter Taiga Mori. This immersive experience combines traditional Japanese hand-building techniques with the cultural and historical richness of the tea ceremony.

Dates: 23.-24. of August

Location: LerKalaset, Ry, Denmark

Duration: 2 days

Teaching hours: 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM both days (including 1-hour lunch break)

Format: Hand-building only (no wheel), suitable for all levels

Includes: Clay, firing and glazing of one chawan, japanese bamboo whisk for tea, coffee/tea/snacks, a Japanese-inspired lunch on both days

Firing: The masterclass will offer two firing options; gas reduction kiln and electric kiln. One chawan firing is included in the masterclass enrollment fee. Participants will also have the opportunity to fire additional pieces by paying a kiln and glazing service fee.

Number of masterclass enrollments: 15

Masterclass enrollment fee: DKK 4275 (569 €)

This special two-day masterclass offers a rare opportunity to dive into the rich tradition of Japanese tea ceramics through the making of chawans — tea bowls used in the centuries-old ritual of the tea ceremony.

Guided by renowned Bizen potter Taiga Mori (Taiga-san), you will learn to hand-build chawans using techniques rooted in Bizen's clay traditions. Bizen ware is one of Japan’s oldest and most important ceramic styles. Characterized by its earthy, unglazed surfaces and wood-fired finish, Bizen pottery reflects a deep respect for natural materials, imperfection and the beauty of flame and ash.

The practice is deeply connected to the philosophy of wabi-sabi — embracing simplicity, impermanence and the quiet beauty of natural flaws. This aesthetic infuses every part of the process, from the forming of the clay to the ritual of drinking tea.

Each element of the chawan — its curve, foot, lip, interior and even the placement of the maker’s mark — has a purpose. Every shape and proportion is intentional, reflecting a philosophy where beauty emerges from function and ritual.

Alongside the making, Taiga-san will share the cultural context of Bizen ceramics and explain the firing process that gives Bizen ware its distinctive character. We will explore the historical and spiritual significance of the tea ceremony in Japanese culture, examining how these bowls connect people to nature, tradition, and mindfulness.

Depending on the pace and interest of the group, there may be time to explore other traditional forms like yunomi cups, sake cups or Bizen-style bottles.

Day 1: Introduction & Chawan Making

• Morning:

  • Welcome and introductions

  • Overview of Bizen ceramics and Japanese ceramic tradition

  • Explanation of wabi-sabi: its meaning, origins and role in Japanese aesthetics and tea ceramics

  • History of the tea ceremony and classical chawan forms: function, design and meaning
     

• Afternoon:

  • Hands-on hand-building: participants begin making their own chawans with close guidance from Taiga

Day 2: Finishing & Tea Ceremony

• Morning:

  • Shaping and refining the chawan

  • Attaching and shaping the foot (following Bizen tradition)

  • Balancing aesthetics and use
     

• Afternoon:

  • Matcha tea ceremony experience with traditional sweets

  • Cultural talk and discussion on the symbolism and significance of the ceremony

The master class teachers and coordinators

Taiga Mori is a third-generation ceramic artist from Bizen, Japan, blending centuries-old pottery traditions with modern innovations. As a community leader, Taiga-san promotes collaboration and openness, redefining the future of Bizen ceramics through international exchanges and creative partnerships. @taiga_mori

Magali Kivatinetz is a ceramic artist whose work draws inspiration from Japanese philosophies like Mingei and kintsugi. She collaborates with restaurants and individuals to create functional and aesthetically balanced pieces, embracing the beauty of natural materials and the transformative power of wood firing. @mkpotterystudio

Marie Fuglsbjerg Zand is a ceramic artist and founder of LerKalaset, a community pottery studio in Ry, Denmark. With a background in education and ceramic arts, she creates spaces where people of all levels can explore clay’s creative potential. Through teaching and community building, Marie celebrates the joy of making and the connections that grow through shared craft. @lerkalaset

Practical information regarding transport and accommodation:

If you need accommodation close to the studio, we recommend Knudhule Badehotel https://knudhule.dk/ or Lyng Dal Hotel https://www.lyngdal-hotel.dk/english .

If you arrive by car, there is free parking in connection with the studio. If you travel by public transport, there are trains and buses from Aarhus to Ry. From Billund and Aarhus airports, Pick-up can be arranged for €60 or a taxi for around €130. Alternatively and cheaper options are bus and train from both airports.

Registration takes place upon payment.

Once you have received the order confirmation per email, you are registered for the Masterclass. The invoice you receive per email shortly thereafter is valid as your ticket. (Note that both order confirmation and invoice will be issued in the Danish language). Your registration is binding. Refund or exchange will only take place in the event that LerKalaset reschedules or cancels the dates. You may sell your ticket if you are prevented from participating. If so, please inform LerKalaset of the name and email address of the new participant.

Dansk oversættelse

Chawan & teceremoni-oplevelse – to-dages masterclass med Taiga Mori (Taiga-san) 

En vej ind til dybden og poesien i japansk håndværk, ledet af en af Bizens moderne mestre.

Deltag i en unik to-dages masterclass i Danmark med tredjegenerations Bizen-keramiker Taiga Mori. Denne helhedsoplevelse kombinerer traditionelle japanske håndbygningsteknikker med den japanske teceremonis rige historie og kultur.

Datoer: 23.- 24. august 

Sted: LerKalaset, Ry, Danmark 

Varighed: 2 dage

Undervisningstider: 10:00 – 17:00 begge dage (inkl. 1 times frokostpause) 

Teknik: Kun håndbygning (ingen drejeskive), egnet til alle niveauer 

Inkluderet: Ler, brænding og glasering af en chawan, japansk tepiskeris i bambus, kaffe/te og snack, japanskinspireret frokost begge dage

Brænding: Masterclassen tilbyder to brændingsmuligheder: gasreduceret brænding og brænding i elovn. Én chawan-brænding er inkluderet i masterclassens deltagergebyr. Deltagerne har også mulighed for at brænde yderligere emner for en separat brændings- og glaseringspris.

Antal tilmeldinger til masterclass: 15

Masterclass deltagergebyr: DKK 4275 (569 €)

Denne særlige to-dages masterclass giver en sjælden mulighed for at fordybe sig i den rige tradition for japansk te-keramik gennem skabelsen af chawans – te-skåle, der anvendes i den århundreder gamle teceremoni.

Under vejledning af den anerkendte Bizen-keramiker Taiga Mori (Taiga-san) lærer du at håndbygge chawans med teknikker forankret i Bizens lertraditioner. Bizen-keramik er en af Japans ældste og mest betydningsfulde keramiske stilarter. Kendetegnet ved sine jordagtige, uglaserede overflader og brænding med træfyring, afspejler Bizen-keramik en dyb respekt for naturmaterialer, uperfekthed og skønheden i flammer og aske.

Praksissen er tæt forbundet med wabi-sabi-filosofien – en hyldest til enkelhed, forgængelighed og den stille skønhed i naturlige uperfektheder. Denne æstetik afspejles i hele processen, fra formningen af leret til te-ritualet.

Hvert element i en chawan – dens bue, fod, kant, inderside og endda placeringen af keramikerens signatur – har en funktion. Hver form og dimension er skabt med intention og afspejler en filosofi, hvor æstetik opstår gennem det funktionelle og ceremonielle.

Sideløbende med chawanskabelsen vil Taiga-san fortælle om den kulturelle kontekst omkring Bizen-keramik og forklare brændingsprocessen, der giver Bizen-keramik dens særlige karakter. Vi vil dykke ned i teceremoniens historiske og spirituelle betydning i japansk kultur og undersøge, hvordan disse skåle sætter mennesker i forbindelse med natur, tradition og mindfulness.

Alt efter deltagernes tempo og interesse kan der blive tid til at udforske andre traditionelle former såsom yunomi-kopper, sake-kopper eller flasker i Bizen-stil.

Dag 1: Introduktion & håndbygning af Chawan

• Formiddag:

• Velkomst og introduktion

• Gennemgang af Bizen-keramik og japansk keramisk tradition

• Forklaring af wabi-sabi: betydning, oprindelse og rolle i japansk æstetik og te-keramik

• Te-ceremoniens historie og klassiske chawan-former: funktion, design og betydning.

• Eftermiddag:

• Praktisk håndbygning: deltagerne begynder at skabe egne chawans med vejledning fra Taiga.

Dag 2: Afslutning & teceremoni

• Formiddag:

  • Formgivning og finpudsning af chawan

  • Fastgørelse og udformning af foden (som i Bizen-traditionen)

  • Balancen mellem æstetik og funktion.

• Eftermiddag:

  • Matcha-teceremoni med traditionelle japanske søde sager

  • Kultursamtale og diskussion om ceremonien og dens symbolik.

Masterclassens undervisere og koordinatorer

Taiga Mori er tredjegenerationskeramiker fra Bizen, Japan, og forener århundreder gamle keramiktraditioner med nyskabende teknikker. Som en engageret kulturel formidler fremmer Taiga-san samarbejde og åbenhed ved at redefinere fremtiden for Bizen-keramik gennem internationale udvekslinger og kreative partnerskaber. @taiga_mori

Magali Kivatinetz er en keramiker, hvis arbejde er inspireret af japanske filosofier såsom Mingei og kintsugi. Hun samarbejder med restauranter og private for at skabe funktionelle og æstetisk afbalancerede værker, der hylder skønheden i naturmaterialer og den transformative kraft i træfyring. @mkpotterystudio

Marie Fuglsbjerg Zand er keramiker og grundlægger af LerKalaset - et fællesskabsdrevet keramikstudie i Ry, Danmark. Med sin baggrund inden for undervisning og keramisk kunst skaber hun rum, hvor mennesker på  alle niveauer kan udforske lerets kreative potentiale. Marie værdsætter glæden ved skabelse og de forbindelser, der opstår gennem fælles håndværk. @lerkalaset

Tilmelding sker ved betaling. Du vil modtage en faktura via E-mail, som er gyldig som din kursusbillet.Tilmelding er bindende og kurset refunderes eller byttes kun i tilfælde af aflysning eller ændring af datoer fra LerKalasets side. Kursusbilletten kan sælges videre, hvis man bliver forhindret i at deltage.