Tsubura Kagami is a ceramic artist based in Tokoname, Aichi, one of Japan’s historic pottery centers. Following her studies in ceramics and four years working at a pottery studio in Kasama, she established her independent practice in Tokoname in 2018. Kagami draws from historic Vietnamese blue-and-white ware, known in Japan as Annan-de, as well as Japanese folk pottery traditions.

Working with red clay, Kagami applies white slip before carving each motif directly into the surface, without a preliminary sketch. Cobalt pigment settles into the carved lines beneath a flowing ash glaze, producing the softly blurred blues and subtle variations that distinguish each firing. Floral patterns, cats, birds, and other figures recur throughout her work, lending a gentle narrative quality to vessels intended for everyday use.