User:Togeika

Born in Osaka Japan. Lived in same neighborhood in Sakai City that Sen No Rikyu was from until I moved to the USA. Went to school in Michigan. Moved to Minnesota in 1983 to study Soto Zen Buddhism with Dainin Katagiri Roshi. Introduced to the work of Warren MacKenzie and Shoji Hamada at that time by my wife Jean Shannon. Moved to Mashiko in 1999, Japan to do 3 year apprenticeship with National Living Treasure Tatsuzo Shimaoka. Established my own kiln and pottery in 2003 upon graduation, in Mashiko, Japan. Worked the summer of 2007 in Minneapolis. Awared a McKnight Residency for spring of 2008 and will do a 3 month residency at Northern Clay Center in Minneapolis. Splitting my time as a studio potter between Minneapolis, Minnesota and Mashiko Tochigi Prefecture, Japan