英米　１年
I really enjoyed your speech. It was the first time for me to listen to a talk about ceramics, and I'm interested in pottery a little because I live in Gifu. That is why I appreciate that I had such a precious opportunity to see you today. I wondered why you stopped making plates and mug cups for functional use, and started making sculptures instead. I really loved what you said "ろくろalways makes only round shapes." Sculptures need imagination and inspiration. It is interesting for me." I thought I also want to do what I really want to do. I'm thinking that I want to learn more about Japanese traditions because I study English at university now and realized that it is very very important to know well about my own country. Moreover, I felt that I also want to work to tell foreign people about Japanese traditional beauty. You looked so happy when you were talking about your work. Thank you.

英米　１年

There were two pints which very surprised me about your talk. The first is Japanese like you, and foreigners are able to connect at the point of ceramics. Before your lecture, because of the limitations of my knowledge, I thought ceramics were only part of Japanese cultures. However, surprisingly, there are many people who make ceramics! Foreigner feel ceramics are beautiful while looking your or other Japanese ceramics. That brakes my fixed idea. Second, you don't spend so much time to make them! Only an hour!? I couldn't believe my eras! But imagining the piece takes very long time, you said. Then, I understand why making a piece doesn't take so much time. Long experience makes your work. Long history makes present "Shuzo Michikawa.

英米　１年

Thank you for your presentation. It was a great experience for me. I live in Chita city, so I know that Tokoname city is famous for ceramic arts and also that Tokoname high school has a ceramic arts department. I often go to AEON Mall Tokoname. There are a lot of ceramic arts there. When I went there for the first time, I felt something strange. Maybe I felt the power of the ceramic work le they drew me into the ceramic world. And they also have a power which calms us down. think Mr. Michiawa doesn't make pottery but creates some kinds of power.

英米　３年

Thank you very much for your interesting presentation. I did not realize how interesting pottery is before, so I was very happy to hear your presentation. Today I learnt many things. In this essay, I want to pick up three things. Firstly, I was surprised by Mr. Michikawa's technique. I did not have any idea about it. It was quite unique, such as twisting, and the contrast. Pottery is very close to my life, yet it looked very different in his work!! Secondly, the collaboration with many other people was interesting, especially with Kagura or musical instruments, or chefs. Also, Mr. Michikawa's opinion about collaboration was nice in that many people can look at his work thanks to other famous artists. Thirdly, his saying "experience is most important" was interesting. I think I will bare it in mind in my future life. Again, thank you very much for great presentation.

フランス　２年

His recent work which made out of clay and silver attracted me very much. It has beautiful curves and depth. I think it's difficult to make a work which is both beautiful and unique. If we try to make something beautiful, it can be ordinary. And if we try to make something unique, it can be strange. But I thought everyone would recognize his work not only unique but also beautiful. That's amazing. Another thing I was surprised by is that each of his pieces has different forms. Mostly once people win praise for their work, they continue to do the same thin. But he always tries to make new and better things. He also goes to amazing places on his own to get good materials. I really have to follow his spirit when I learn language. I have to speak French fluently correctly, but I shouldn't say the same things as others.

中国　２年

I really enjoyed Mr. Michikawa's presentation and was inspired by it. I think he must have gone to a lot of countries to see many ceramic products. I'm from Aichi so know about Seto ceramics, but I didn't know that there were so many kinds of ceramics in the world, so I was surprised. The shape of some of the ceramics didn't look useful but we can use some of them as flower vases, ornaments and so on. I saw a picture in which a ceramic was used as a plate. It had sushi on it. When I saw it, I thought it's artificial but unique. Moreover, I think it indicated the culture and atmosphere of the restaurant. I think we had better focus on whether the plates suite the local foods or not. I think the design difference between the designers is interesting for me. To see the shape and texture of the ceramics is also interesting. I think to have a passion is good so if I'm interested in something, I want to develop my interest.

国際　１年
There were two points surprised me in his talk. First, I was surprised by his energy in that he commuted to an evening ceramics school for the sake of hobby. Second, I was surprised by his exhibition because I had never heard of a man who holds such exhibitions around the world. And I have two opinions about his talk. Firstly, he said that the Chinese were surprised by his ceramics because of the differences in culture between China and Japan, but I was also surprised by his work because I haven't seen twisted ceramics like his work. Finally, I think the collaboration of nature and art is good because the environment which is surrounded by nature is suitable for helping artist to concentrate.

国際　１年

I was very very lucky to get to listen to the story of Mr. Michikawa's work. I thought his work was amazing as he holds exhibitions all over the world of his very original and unique ceramic art. I was interested in the idea of connecting his pottery making with other things such as music and local areas. Not only that, his speech was really inspiring. He told us about the wonderfulness of working hard or something we love, and I hope to find something that I can be crazy about, like he did. I hope to see his art in person, someday. Thank you so much.

国際　２年

It was a really great opportunity for us to know about ceramics. Personally, I had no knowledge about it. So, I couldn't catch all the technical words such as the materials or techniques he uses, but still, it was interesting. What surprised me the most was that he makes a collaboration between ceramics and music so that many people, including those who are not interested in ceramics, can have the chance to come in contact with pottery. As Mr. Michikawa said, making a ceramic artwork requires years of training. So, I strongly think that japan should have more universities with ceramic departments like in the US. Doing so, Japan will have more wonderful artists like Mr. Michikawa.

留学生

How amazing it is when a hobby becomes lifework! Mr. Michikawa must be a very happy person. His works are creative and original. And the theory about how he likes to decorate his pieces sometimes with products bought in foreign supermarkets. That's how a person can be immersed in what he's doing if he loves it. And the fact that great art can spread all over the world, coming from just a tiny village somewhere in the depth of Japan is surprising. I don't understand much when it comes to art, but I think I should visit Sasama's art festival and see with my own eyes all the wonderful creations made by talented international artists.