I met Akiko in 2019 through a pottery gallery in London.
Since then, Akiko has navigated marriage during the pandemic in the UK, childbirth, parenting, and balancing work with family life. She has ridden many waves with a positive attitude.
Being with Akiko makes everyone around her feel filled with positive energy. Through this interview, I hope we can discover the source of that positivity and tips for maintaining a forward-looking mindset.
Q: First, could you tell us what kind of activities you are involved in?
I teach courses and taster classes at a pottery studio based in East London! I think the pandemic has played a part, but many urbanites come to the studio wanting to escape screen life and sharpen their sense of touch. Some are even battling emotional scars. I work daily hoping to help each person find positivity through the creative process!
Q: Marriage, childbirth, and parenting in a foreign country during the pandemic, balancing it all with work. It all sounds challenging. Could you tell us about a particularly difficult memory and how you overcame it?
2020 was a continuous series of unexpected events, and I had to accept various changes. Now, I can genuinely be grateful for everything that happened, but I also realized that true gratitude requires a deep sense of inner peace and security. When I felt like I was losing myself, I turned to the potter's wheel and handcrafts! Pottery is a material that requires a lot of care, delicacy, and process to complete, but it also grounds you in realistic time and sensation. It has saved me countless times!
- Those are very profound words that can only come from truly confronting what happens.
And as someone who makes a living through creation, I deeply resonate with that. For us, creating is a challenge, but it also brings a sense of security and a meditative quality.
Q: By the way, Akiko, you were born and raised in Japan. Are there any differences or discoveries you've made in raising children in the UK compared to Japan?
First and foremost, it's about praising and nurturing children! Perhaps it's because there's a chaotic diversity here where you have to say that everyone is different and that's okay. (Our neighbours include a large Somali family next door and a Polish couple upstairs, so our neighbourhood is full of diverse backgrounds.) Since I haven't raised children in Japan, I can't compare directly, but when I observe other parents and children in London parks, I often see them interacting with children as equals, explaining things, and communicating. Even young children are asked questions, and conversations delve into their simple answers. As for system differences, kindergarten hours are short, and childcare costs are very high, making it difficult to balance work and childcare. Also, parents regularly drop off and pick up their children from elementary school. There are many holidays, and parents need to engage with their children for long periods, so even after school starts, it's quite participatory. The passive, leave-it-all-to-the-school attitude common in Japan doesn't work here.
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Akiko at her house in East London.
Q: Living surrounded by people from a wide range of backgrounds, do you ever strongly feel your own identity stemming from your background?
I feel my identity in the way I communicate. Even when I become good friends with someone, there's no culture of "boke and tsukkomi" (a Japanese comedic duo dynamic), so my attempts at humor to lighten the mood often don't land at all. (There's no such thing as taking turns like a comedy duo, and when I speak as the main speaker in a conversation, I often feel the need to have a clear intention and punchline to my story.) Also, the complete lack of humility and the way people openly share boastful stories or even tales of misfortune as anecdotes surprised me when I first arrived!
Q: I previously interviewed Miyu Kurihara, another potter working in London. Akiko, your activities extend beyond being just an artist; you hold workshops in various places, and I feel a strong connection to people through your pottery. Could you share any discoveries you've made in this process?
Touching clay is a somewhat special activity for most people. Especially when trying the potter's wheel for the first time, everyone approaches it differently—some are composed, others are nervous. I feel like you can see a person's character and their power to face the unknown. And after a while, everyone focuses on their own sense of touch, and it's fascinating how separate individuals create a sense of unity, forming a shared time and space! I've sometimes thought it's difficult to lead a class in English and teach a sense of balance, including intuitive aspects. But ultimately, I believe the answer lies in realizing that it's not about words or how it looks, but about how it feels!
Q: When you got married in 2020, Akiko, I had the pleasure of making your dress, and you wore it so beautifully, which made me very happy. Could you tell me how you felt when you wore the dress?
I truly remember that you accepted my request to create my outfit for my wedding, which was just before lockdown! It was a major event in my life, but due to COVID, neither set of parents nor many friends could attend, which made me feel quite vulnerable and distant from my homeland. However, when I put on the handmade outfit, I felt the warmth of knowing that my story continued here in London, surrounded by people who cared for me. It became a source of power for the new life that began that day!
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Q: Finally, what challenges do you want to take on next?
I want to deliver the things I create.
Leaving my home country with no connections, I've had the opportunity to work here through various relationships, experiencing a life and experiences I never would have had in Japan. Now, I want to ease the pressure I've been putting on myself and shape what I've learned into tangible forms.
- Akiko's gentle yet direct approach to facing an uncertain reality and future once again gives me courage and energy, and I return to my clothes making.
Recalling the days we'd talk about everything over a pint of beer at a pub in Peckham after our respective workdays.
Akiko at her house in East London.