May 2002:
Members of Poco-a Poco in Osaka send their contribution to The International Potters' Path in Wales.
They were delivered to The Path in person by Sayuri Kawamura left from Takarazuka City, near Osaka, who travelled all the way to Wales on her own with a very heavy load! Sayuri's own tiles show Mt. Fuji with Atom Boy the character created by Osamu Tezuka, who is also a native of Takarazuka City, where Sayuri lives

Jacqui Kruzweski of North Wales Potters holding the No War, No Cry tiles by Rika Egami and sitting on the steps at the entrance to The Chapel of Art with Sayuri who is holding both her own Atom Boy tiles right

Not only did Sayuri carry all the tiles from Japan to Wales, she also brought photographs of the members of Poco-a Poco who contributed to this project. The photographs were wrapped in this beautifully made paper origami pocket with tassel (top right) And here are some of the other Path Makers of Poco-a Poco: they include kiln owner, Maki and group leader, Rika Egami:

All the Poco-a Poco Path Makers: 1614-5 Sayuri Kawamura, Takarazuka City; 1616-7 Yumi Itsubo; 1618 Maki Izawa Tani; 1619 Ibaraki; 1620 Yuka; 1621-2 Naomi; 1623-4 Rika Egami (founder of Poco-a Poco); 1625 Kiyomi; 1626 1627 Kayo Nomura Later arrivals: 1686 Eiichi Yokoyama, Kishiwada-Osaka; 1687 Harumi Umakawa, Itomi-Hyügo; 1688 Kayo Yasui, Osaka

Very many thanks to everyone for the tremendous tiles you have contributed to The Path. The well designed and finely made tiles really do represent Japan, its people and culture very well indeed. They will hopefully inspire others to make one just as representational of their own country!

Our gratitude and special thanks to Sayuri for her extraordinary services to The Path, international cultural exchange and co-operation.