The Bear of Echizen

A "world of fire, a world all dark, totally red ..."

Welcome to the home page of Kumano Kurôemon (熊野九郎右ヱ門), a unique wood-fire art potter who toils in isolation in the snow country on the "back side" of Japan.

This site is maintained by admirers of Kumano who believe his powerful works in clay stand out like volcanoes on the rim of the Japanese pottery tradition — distinctive, beautiful, challenging — and should be experienced by as many lovers of ceramics as possible worldwide.

Kumano's production is small and his pieces until fairly recently were rarely seen outside of Japan (see Writings links). However, a large solo exhibition was hosted by Germany's Keramikmuseum Westerwald in 2004-05, followed by a month-long workshop at Fachhochschule Koblenz in 2006, so at least some Europeans are getting to know the man and his work a little better.

Similarly, in the United States, a few years ago Kumano led a highly acclaimed workshop in Piedmont College (Athens, Georgia). He returned September 16-19, 2016, and held a workshop at Bridgewater State University (Bridgewater, Massachusetts), from September 21-23, 2016.

Dear friends,

It is with particular joy that, after a break of almost 18 months, I am able to offer an update to Kumano’s website. It features highlights from the Bear’s most recent firing, which, although especially taxing on him personally, turned out to be the most satisfying of the past decade!

Despite the collapse of a shelf and other untoward incidents, numerous pieces received a kiss from the kiln gods and exhibit the glory of Shino glaze combined with flying natural ash. The former was either intentionally applied or dripped down by chance from a higher shelf during the firing. Either way, each and every work in this update deserves lingering over.

There are other aspects of this latest firing that stand out. Kumano received a commission for sushi platters, and, given the high percentage of pieces that tend to suffer cracking, warpage and fusion during his intense week-long firing, he loaded more platters than were ordered. Miraculously, nearly all emerged balanced and beautiful, so in this update we are able to add two sushi platters to the Bear’s canonical tea bowls, vases, sake ware, plates, bowls and cups. (Incidentally, because the sushi restaurant is located in the U.S., Kumano signed the platters “Kuma” instead of his usual クマ.)

Of special note, as well, are two non-utilitarian works. One is a curiously sensual abstract objet, but the more dramatic one is a set of twin figurines, averaging 50 cm (20 inches) in height, that represent the emperor and empress from a Girls’ Day display. Every March Japanese families display dolls to wish health and good fortune for their females, and this custom suppled the inspiration for Kumano’s powerful, museum-stature sculptures. (The sake cup melded to the emperor can be seen as a little gift from the aforementioned kiln gods.)

Kumano’s grueling, solitary firings exhaust him for many months afterward, and now, aged 70, he talks openly of retirement. I know I suggested before that there seemed to be no more firings left in him, but now I sense it especially strongly, even as I pray I am wrong. What a blessing that this most recent kiln opening was such a joyful one for the Bear.

Please have a look. As always, do not hesitate to contact me with any questions.

Note to US residents: If Japan Post/ EMS continues its current restrictive policy on U.S.-bound packages, you may be asked to pay part of the cost of FedEx, depending on the size of the piece.

Go to update January 2026

We look forward to hearing from you.

All the best,

Peter Ujlaki

Peter, Kumano, and Peter's wife Kayoko
October 2025

Kumano's Home Studio
October 2025

Kumano and his wife Kyoko wrapping pieces for the website
October 2025

Previous Photos

Kumano and his pandemic project, a wooden sculpture of a nature deity,
in the style of Enkû (円空 1632–1695), a Japanese Buddhist monk, poet,
and sculptor famous for carving some 120,000 wooden statues o
of Buddha and other Buddhist icons (late 2023)

Kumano, his wife Kyoko, and Peter (late 2023)

Kumano, Peter's wife Kayoko, and Kyoko, late 2023

Kumano and his wife Kyoko at lunch, early November 2022

Kumano and Peter in the studio, early November 2022

Kumano Kurôemon in his studio, late November 2021

Peter Ujlaki with Kumano Kurôemon in July 2020

The Bear sketches one of his famous road maps as Kyoko (his wife)
and Kayoko (Peter's wife) look on in 2018

Inside Kumano Kurôemon's kiln after 2017 firing

Kumano Kurôemon with grandchildren 2017

Kumano Kurôemon with his painting Blood Serum A

Kumano Kurôemon, Peter Ujlaki, and Kumano's wife Kyoko 2014