The late Noudo Fujimoto, formally a living national treasure and President of Tokyo National University of  Fine Arts and Music, originated the “under and over” glazing technique to paint pictures on his porcelain works.  He tried many ways of glazing with paints to express subtle colours.  He became renown for painting with a delicate over-glaze style.  His love of nature was vividly expressed in his painting, and this powerof expression was so great that he named his style of painting on porcelain “Yuubyoukasai”.　

    I was greatly influenced by his work.  I have developed a way to express “Yuubyoukasai” not on porcelain, but o stoneware.  I paint pictures with straw ash glaze on my stoneware after biscuit firing.  My style of painting with glaze is very close to Indian-ink drawing.  I put glaze on one side of the brush, soak water on the other side, and draw.　After placing the stoneware in reduction firing at around 1,240 centigrade, the picture vividly displays the colours and the appearance of solidity.

    After that, I begin over-glaze colour painting on each part of the picture.My pigments come from Kutani, Kyoto as well as those I select from othercountries.  I am able to create amazing expressions through this original technique with vivid colours, the appearance of solidity, and a warmth that doesn't exist in painted porcelains.  I have adapted this unique technique to my stoneware-making, and have namedit “Yuubyousai” in honour of Noudo Fujimoto.