Michael Millam | Episode 1192
Michael Millam is back! Way back in episode 247 Michael had been a guest on the show. At the time Michael was a high school teacher here in the United States. But much has changed since then. Michael has since moved to Japan to be teacher there. In this episode of The Potters Cast we catch up with Michael to get the whole story on this new venture.
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As a maker are there supplies or materials that you cannot get access to over there that you miss?
Most stuff I can get, and I got lucky and found a place that still sells the Amaco Velvet underglazes because they are my favorite. That was the one thing I really missed. Besides that, pretty much everything is available here.
Are there tools and supplies there that you found in Japan that you can’t get in the states?
Most of it is the same. I think with global distributions a lot of stuff you can find. There are a few things that are maybe specific to Japan, but for the most part everything you need is pretty much available.
Have you had a chance to see local ceramics and get into that culture at all?
Yes, actually I have become friends with a local potter. He’s from Australia, but lives very much a Japanese life. He wood fires all of his pottery traditionally. He uses tatami mats to round his work to give it a real distinct look. He put me through a two week, this is what a Japanese apprenticeship is kind of like. I have also been to a few pottery towns. One that has a huge pottery festival twice a year. That’s my goal this year is to reach out to more artists here and making more connections.
How has this impacted your ability to sell your ceramics?
That’s the part I’m starting to struggle with, How do I sell? There’s plenty of opportunity but it comes to a language barrier. How will that work out for me to sell, not being able to have whole conversations with some people? So that’s something I am trying to work in figuring out.
So you are not currently selling in Japan?
No, but it’s all for sale. (Laughter)
Have you hit any other brick walls by being there?
No, I haven’t, there a lot of information available, there’s a lot of supplies. So I kind of walked into a situation that was set up and the Australian potter that I have met, he worked with our school, so I was able to get a lot of information.
How has Japan changed you personally?
That’s a good question. It’s made me more open to how other people live. And very culturally outward and respectful. So that’s really changed how you approach things. Everyone is going to line up on the left in the staircase so that other people can walk by and I find that some of those small things I take back with me. Okay, everyone be in this side as you are going up the stairs, in the states or something like that. It has really opened my eyes in understanding other cultures.
Instagram: @Mikenightmare
