Marriage of East and West
– What Bernard Leach Left Behind –
Published in February 2017
During the era of “Taisho Democracy,” a fashionable and sophisticated cultural movement in Japan, Abiko was one of the important centers of art and philosophy. At that time, the novel food, curry, made by Kaneko Yanagi, the wife of the folk art pioneer Muneyoshi Yanagi, was served to the members of the Shirakabaha literary group. It is said that Bernard Leach (potter 1887-1979), whom we will focus on this time, proposed adding miso to the curry made by Kaneko. He is also a figure who played a pivotal role in the origins of the “Shirakabaha’s Curry,” which has become a specialty of Abiko.
Leach’s Youth spent in Abiko
“That dreamlike, elongated swamp extending miles to the east is still vividly remembered in my mind.” In his later years, Bernard Leach expressed his memories of Lake Teganuma in this way in his book “Beyond East and West.”
The person who invited Bernard Leach to Abiko and supported his creative activities was the central figure of the Shirakabaha, Muneyoshi Yanagi. In 1916, Leach built a pottery kiln at Yanagi’s residence (present-day Sanjuso in Tenjinsaka, Abiko City). Abiko had become a vibrant place where artists gathered, and many people, including the literati of the Shirakabaha, visited. Among them was the potter Shoji Hamada.
However, in 1919, Leach’s workspace was destroyed in a fire. It seemed that the kiln was fired too much, and Leach was greatly disappointed. In 1920, at the age of 33, Leach decided to return to England with Shoji Hamada.
Leach’s creative activities
Upon returning to England, Leach, with Hamada’s assistance, immediately established a traditional Japanese “climbing kiln” (1923). This was the beginning of “Leach Pottery.” Here, he started pottery activities that integrated Western and Eastern aesthetics and philosophy. Leach believed that “pottery is a fusion of art, philosophy, design, craftsmanship, and lifestyle,” and he immersed himself in his creations. After a while, people from around the world came hoping to become his apprentices, and “Leach Pottery” became the base for Leach’s ceramic artistry.
The clay and other materials forming the basis of Leach’s pottery were closely related to the local climate and environment. Moreover, his thoughts and techniques for creation were influenced by the characteristics of each location. What the Westerner Leach encountered and accumulated in the East goes beyond pottery; it can be seen as a precious and profound emotional history of a single artist.
In 1979, Bernard Leach passed away at a hospital in St. Ives. He was 92 years old. He rests in a cemetery in the outskirts of St. Ives, with the only title “POTTER” inscribed on his gravestone.
The figure depicted on Leach’s monument in Abiko is said to be his own, as a pilgrim who continued seeking the truth of creation that transcended East and West.
Pilgrim, Bernard Leach and Abiko, known only to Lake Teganuma. What he left here continues to shine like the sun’s light sparkling on the surface of the water..
Leach Pottery (Pottery Studio)
St. Ives, where Leach Pottery is located, is a famous town known for housing many artists. Some parts of this pottery are still preserved as they were in the past. The newly added section in 2008 includes galleries and shops and has been well-received. Many works with the characteristics of Japanese folkcraft, which he experienced in Japan, are also exhibited here.
Bernard Leach (1887-1979)
Born in Hong Kong in 1887. British national. His father was a lawyer. His mother passed away shortly after giving birth to Leach, so he was raised by his maternal grandparents, who lived in Japan. He later moved with his father to several countries, including Hong Kong and Singapore. At the age of 10, he went to England for education. In 1907, he enrolled at the London School of Art, where he met Koutaro Takamura. He also became acquainted with Lafcadio Hearn’s works. In 1909, at the age of 22, he decided to go to Japan. He settled in Ueno and taught etching. Figures from the Shirakabaha, such as Muneyoshi Yanagi, Saneatsu Mushanokoji, and Naoya Shiga, attended his classes. Around the same time, he also became acquainted with the potter Kenkichi Tomimoto. This meeting greatly increased Leach’s interest in pottery.