Mr.Kato Hiroshige all the way from Seto Japan is the 12th generation potter of the kitagama kiln and is bringing us the rare opportunity to learn traditional Japanese throwing, painting and glazing techniques in a short intense 3 day workshop.
Dates 15th February to 20th February 2026 (Check in 15th Feb, Check out 20th Feb)
Slow Pottery Studio Location Velanga Orchard, Andhra Pradesh, India
Here's a guide to staying at our farm.
Accommodation & Studio Details below
Ceramic Artist / Facilitators Mr. Hiroshige Kato, Kasen Pottery, Seto Japan
Level Intermediate
Duration 3 days
Firing
Firing on the 18th. Kiln Opening 20th early morning. Check out post 12pm.
Students must bring their own 5 Bisque ware pieces not more than 6 inches height and 6 inches length for painting and glazing techniques.
Studio Hours & Materials
All days 10:30am to 5:00pm (This includes teaching, supervision and practice on your own)
Optional self practice in the studio 5:30pm to 8pm
All materials will be provided except bisque ware for painting and glazing.
Note - If you'd like to sign up for two or three consecutive intensives you can stay with us at no extra cost during the break of three days. The Studio will be closed in preparations for the next intensive.
Manual Instalment Payment Option
If you'd like to pay in two instalments, 50% to book now and 50% to be paid two months before the course starts, please email me at hello@slowpottery.com and pay via a manual bank transfer/UPI/ International bank transfer or use Wise.
The Intensive
Mr. Hiroshige Kato, the 12th generation head of the Kitagama kiln in Seto, one of the oldest pottery production centers in japan is coming to our studio. 400 years, Kato san's family have run the Kitagama kiln and kept their traditional techniques alive. Its absolutely an honour to have him teach us at our studio.
His Intensive is for three days where he’ll be teaching techniques like spiral wedging, throwing off the hump, making plates, bottles, lids, teapots, hand pinching maccha chawan, making chucks, trimming using bamboo tools. drawing shino oribe and glazing technique known as gabanuri.
Schedule
Day 1
Spiral wedging
Wheel throwing by hump and centering
How to use cutting strings
How to make dragonfly and use it
How to make and use wood lib
How to throw bottle shape
Making lid by wheel
Making Teapot by Wheel
How to make a big plate
Variation of chuck and How to make them
Day 2
How to trim the bottom with chuck
How to put the parts of a pot
Making maccha chawan by hand pinching
Day 3
Drawing Shino Oribe traditional pattern
How to trim the chawan bottom with bamboo tool
Traditional glazing way (Gabanuri)
Wheel practice
About the Ceramic Artist
1998 Takes over the 12th head of Akazu ware kiln Kitagama
2000 Technical guidance for ceramics in Oaxaca, Mexico as a JICA (Japan International Cooperation Agency) expert
2003 Supervised and published a new edition of Introduction to Ceramics (Tatsumi Publishing)
2015 Pottery guest teacher at Berkshire School Massachusetts USA
2016 Japanese pottery workshop at NOTHCOTE Pottery in Malbourne Australia
2017 Workshop held at IIT (Indian Institute of Technology) Design Center, India
Guest pottery lecturer at Bradley Univ. Millkin Univ., Illinois. USA
2018 Held a Japanese pottery workshop at the Japan Foundation New Delhi
At LYCEE DELA CERAMIQUE HNRY MOSAND in France
Held a lecture on Japanese pottery and a workshop on the potter's wheel technique
2019 Workshop at The Potters studio in San Francisco, USA, Workshop in Barcelona, Spain
2023 Japanese pottery workshop at Mexico Queretaro studio
2024 Japanese pottery workshop at Findlay Univ. Bluffton Univ. OHAIO
WORK EXPERIENCE
2020~ Lecturer at Nagoya Gakuin University (Ceramic theory, pottery practice)
1983 Graduated from the Meiji University.
Joined The family pottery studio Kitagama Kasen.
http://www.kasen-web.com/english/index.html
Slow Pottery Studio Facilities & Environment
The Slow Pottery studio is situated in Velanga Orchard, surrounded by mango trees. Our focus on natural light and airflow creates a minimal, inspiring space for our students. The local Kerala tile roof and glass tiles provide shade and brightness, even in the hottest months.
We have an electric wheel for each student, one electric kiln, a small kitchenette with unlimited freshly ground coffee, plenty wedging tables to spread wide with projects along with a restful chai spot to catch a break during long work hours. Ample shelves, stoneware clay, all materials required for each intensive is a given.
Hoping the studio fosters inspiring intensives and nurtures a space where creativity, ideas, and positive energy flourish.
Farm Stay & Accommodation - Velanga Orchard
Velanga Orchard is located in Andhra Pradesh in a village known as Jambuneradipalli, a mango orchard, skirting a reserve forest at the foot of a hill with a couple of lakes nearby. Surrounded by shrub forests endowed with over a 100 species of birds and animals.
Here's a guide to staying at our farm.
The Stay
- We have individual cottages for single occupancy, a shared accommodation for double occupancy.
- The cottages are built using vernacular design, local material and vintage aesthetics. The space is surrounded by neem, coconut, teak trees, under the canopies of mango trees, with the hill at the back and lush green all around.
Single Occupancy Private Cottage
Living space: Single bed with a side table, a study table and chair, Storage space for your belongings, with some décor elements.
Kitchenette: Kettle, hot plate, basic utensils, mini fridge, a clay water dispenser, basic cutlery.
Private bath & small patio
No air conditioners
Our common space for students has a laundry room for DIY Laundry, a dining where all meals including evening snacks will be provided, all day coffee & tea stations, a hang out space, library/study.
*The design of furniture varies in all cottages.
Double Occupancy Shared Cottage
Living space: Two Single beds with a side table, a study table and chair, two storage space for your belongings, with some décor elements.
Kitchenette: Kettle, hot plate, basic utensils, mini fridge, a clay water dispenser, basic cutlery.
Attached bath & small patio for two.
No air conditioners
Our common space for students has a laundry room for DIY Laundry, a dining where all meals including evening snacks will be provided, all day coffee & tea stations, a hang out space, library/study.
Here's a guide to staying at our farm.
Fees
Inclusive of the course, firings, materials & tools, studio time, valuable time with guest teacher, stay, wholesome home cooked meals and snacks, farm activities, tax for the entire duration of the course.
Double Occupancy Shared Cottage - Rs.70,000/-
Single Occupancy Private Cottage - Rs.75,250/-
Manual Instalment Payment Option
If you'd like to pay in two instalments, 50% to book now and 50% to be paid two months before the course starts, please email me at hello@slowpottery.com and pay via a manual bank transfer/UPI/ International bank transfer or use Wise.
To Register
Once the payment is made, we will get back to you with a welcome mail. If you'd like to chat about the course, the stay, travel, schedule a call or more, please write to us at hello@slowpottery.com and I'll personally get back to you within one working day.
Cancellation Policy
- If you cancel before and on the 15th December 2025, we will provide you with a 100% refund.
- If you cancel between the 16th December to 31st December 2025, we deduct 50% of the total fees as cancellation fees and refund you the remaining paid amount.
- Post 31st December 2025, we will not be providing any refund.
- In case of International payment refunds, the customer bears the transfer fee. It will get automatically deducted by the payment gateway.
- If your case of medical emergency informed at-least a week in advance, we can consider rescheduling the course (upon providing proof) Refund is not possible. Less than a week, we will not be able to help you.
- Due to any reason, you have to leave during the course, we won't be able to give you a refund or reschedule.
- We follow this policy without any exceptions.
- We take three to four weeks to process the refund.
Hope to see you soon!