About

TAKEFUJI was established by Eriko Takefuji who now lives in Adelaide. She has nurtured a strong passion for Japanese pottery for over 20 years.

Born in Kyushu island in southern Japan, where over 20% of ceramic production regions in the country are located, she lived close to authentic ceramics throughout her childhood. One of her favourite toys was a miniature tea set made of Arita porcelain. Her parents would take her and her sister to the annual Arita Ceramics Festival, which has a history of over 100 years and attracts more than a million people from all over Japan. Year after year, the family always contentedly returned home from the festival fully loaded with sets of beautiful plates and cups.

In her early 20s, these fond memories lingering in her heart set her on a quest for beautiful pottery. She drove around Kyushu and flew south to Okinawa Island and north to Hokkaido to visit pottery making regions. After visiting many ceramic production locations, she eventually found her most favourite pottery in the Oita prefecture, called Onta Yaki (小鹿田焼, Onta Ware). Having visited there several times, she started building relationships with the potters which has enabled her to establish Takefuji online shopping. However, it is not merely a business to her. Above all, she feels very enthusiastic about introducing the exemplary Japanese craftsmanship to pottery lovers in Australia, and bringing the beauty of the magnificent Japanese pottery into their everyday life.

While on her quest for beautiful pottery, she came across the bamboo Fish Forks at the foot of Mt. Yufu in Oita prefecture. Instantly, she fell in love with them. The shape of the Fish Forks was so elegant yet fitted snugly and naturally in her fingers. She has now been using them for over 15 years. Surprisingly, there is no damage or even a scratch on the surface and they still keep the same original shape as when they were first being purchased.

All products that are sold via TAKEFUJI are exquisitely handmade in Japan and meticulously selected by Eriko. Each lovingly handcrafted product is unique in itself and slightly different (that’s the reason why she loves them so much!). Eriko hopes that all customers will love these refined works of Japanese craftsmanship as much as she does.