Naoko was born and grew up in Tokyo, but not the Tokyo you might first imagine. Naoko grew up playing in the wonderful forest and parks around Kichijoji and Mitaka, now the home of the Ghibli Museum. She spent her childhood climbing trees, making “doro-dango” (polished mud balls) and fishing for yabbies in the creek near her home.
Naoko’s interest in pottery began when she started cooking for her family at the age of 10. Her mother taught her that the choice of dish is intrinsic to the presentation and enjoyment of the food that it is used to serve.
Naoko studied ceramics at Joshibi College of art and Design in Tokyo, but after graduating and joining the workforce found little time to pursue her pottery dreams… until fifteen years ago, when she moved to Melbourne and a close friend encouraged her to start teaching Japanese pottery classes at a local studio.
In 2022, Naoko opened her own studio (Kiku Pottery Studio) in Montmorency, where she works on her own pottery and runs classes each week. Naoko still remembers how difficult and often lonely the first few years living in Australia were, so in addition to her studio being a place to teach traditional Japanese techniques and share her passion for pottery, Naoko hopes to create a space where other Japanese living in Melbourne can come to relax and enjoy each other’s company.
In her own work, Naoko continues to explore her own identity through the creation of functional, Japanese inspired pottery.