Renowned Tokoname-trained potter urges public to protect endangered craft traditions and embrace mindful making.

TORONTO, ON / ACCESS Newswire / December 23, 2025 / Ceramic artist Hector Konomi, known for bridging Japanese Tokoname teaware with contemporary Canadian craft, is raising awareness about the urgent need to protect traditional craft knowledge amid rapid industrialization and cultural loss.

"A teapot is not just a tool," Konomi says. "It's a record of hands, land, and decisions. When we lose traditional craft, we lose part of our cultural memory."

His call comes at a time when global craft traditions are under pressure. According to UNESCO, half of the world's traditional craftsmanship practices are at risk of disappearing by 2050. The World Crafts Council reports that more than 30% of traditional craft communities have already seen major declines due to economic instability, aging artisans, and lack of apprentices.

A Personal Appeal Rooted in His Own Journey

Konomi's advocacy stems from his own training lineage. After studying fine arts in Tokyo, he apprenticed in Tokoname City-one of Japan's Six Ancient Kilns-where clay work has been passed from master to apprentice for centuries.

"In Tokoname, you don't just learn technique," he says. "You learn discipline, patience, and respect for the people who kept the craft alive long before you."

He warns that without active stewardship, traditions like these may fade not because of a lack of value, but because of a lack of visibility.

"Craft doesn't disappear overnight," he explains. "It disappears slowly, when fewer people know how to do it and fewer people understand why it matters."

Why This Issue Matters Now

The decline of traditional craft has far-reaching cultural and economic impacts:

• Cultural Loss: McGill University researchers found that the disappearance of local craft practices correlates with a 35% reduction in intergenerational cultural knowledge transfer.

• Environmental Impact: Studies show that handcrafted production produces up to 70% less carbon output compared to mass manufacturing.

• Economic Risk: The global handmade goods market-valued at over $1T annually - relies heavily on skilled craftspeople whose numbers continue to decline.

"When we ignore craft, we also ignore sustainability," Konomi notes. "Traditional techniques often use fewer resources, less energy, and more intention."

A Call to Action: Small Steps People Can Take Today

While Konomi is not asking consumers to overhaul their lifestyles, he encourages simple, mindful actions that help keep craft traditions alive.

"Anyone can take part in preserving craft heritage," he says. "You don't need to be a potter. You just need to care enough to learn and make small choices."

Ways the Public Can Support Craft Traditions:

• Learn the story behind the objects you use.
  "When you understand how something is made, you value it differently," Konomi says.

• Support local artisans and small studios when possible.
  Even occasional purchases help sustain traditional methods.

• Try a craft yourself, even at a beginner level.
  Research shows that hands-on learning increases appreciation and awareness.

• Share knowledge and conversations about traditional craft.
  Visibility is one of the strongest tools for preservation.

• Choose long-lasting, functional objects over disposable ones.
  This reinforces a cycle of thoughtful making and thoughtful use.

A Message for the Next Generation

For Konomi, the stakes are not only cultural-they are human.

"Clay teaches you patience. It teaches you to listen. These are skills that matter far beyond the studio," he says. "If we let traditional craft fade, we lose a way of learning that the world still needs."

He hopes his message inspires people to reconnect with the material world and to see handcrafted objects as more than things, but as conversations across time.

"Tradition isn't about the past," he says. "It's about what we choose to carry forward."

About Hector Konomi

Hector Konomi is a Toronto-based ceramic artist trained in the Tokoname teaware lineage of Aichi Prefecture, Japan. He specializes in hand-formed kyusu teapots, chawan, and functional vessels that emphasize disciplined technique and the quiet drama of fire and clay. His work is collected internationally and follows traditional Tokoname principles of form, balance, and cultural continuity.

Contact: info@hectorkonomi.com

SOURCE: Hector Konomi