〈interview〉
Creating, Selling, and Making a Living
Muroi, who was born and raised in Tochigi Prefecture to a businessman father and a teacher mother, shared a candid thought: "For some reason, ever since I was a child, the only thing I ever thought about was making something, selling it, and making a living from it."
"I never had the desire to become famous as an artist. I simply wanted to be part of the straightforward cycle of creating something, selling it, and receiving its value in return. I’ve always felt that way. I clearly remember being asked in kindergarten, 'What’s your dream for the future?' and not being able to answer with a specific profession."
As a teenager, Muroi attended painting classes and frequently practiced knitting. However, when it came time to choose a path for higher education, she opted for the ceramics department at an art university in Kyoto. Reflecting on why she was drawn to ceramics among various forms of craftsmanship, she explains, "I think it’s because I wanted to create something that could be used in daily life, rather than objects meant solely for display, like sculptures or paintings."
After graduating from university, Muroi moved to Okinawa, where she worked in an environment that allowed her to explore not only ceramics but also textile dyeing and weaving, a field she had long been interested in.
Her turning point came during a visit to Mashiko, a town famous for its pottery, while returning home to Tochigi. There, she happened to meet a fellow artist from her university who warmly invited her, saying, "Come work with us."
This encounter led her to return to her hometown, where she spent about two years honing her craft before becoming independent, paving the way for where she is today.
Today, Muroi spends her days creating in a small workshop and studio nestled in her home’s garden. Surrounded by nature, her workspace faces a wooded area leading to the entrance of a forest. Every morning, she wakes to the sounds of birds, and it’s not uncommon to see a tanuki wandering through the neighborhood—scenes that seem straight out of a storybook, yet are simply part of her everyday life.
"In reality, it’s actually quite noisy, and not nearly as idyllic as it might sound. While working, I find that listening to people talk helps me focus, so I always have the radio or a podcast playing. I often find myself nodding along or even talking back to the radio as if it were a real conversation."
I still think of my mentor to this day.
"Both in terms of personality and technique, I’m just not suited to ‘making the same thing uniformly over and over again.’ Of course, there was a time when I admired that kind of craftsmanship, but people around me would say, ‘That’s not really you,’ and I had already started to realize as a student that it wasn’t a good fit for me.
So now, even if each of the pieces I create has a different expression or shape, I just think, ‘Let’s chalk it up to the charm of handmade work—please forgive me!’ I’m truly grateful for the people who choose to take my work into their hands."
She shared that she still thinks of her mentor from university while working on her pieces. "I haven’t had the chance to see my professor lately, but I often imagine, ‘I wonder what they would think of this,’ or ‘How would they evaluate my work?’" she said with a warm smile. It was a touching moment that offered a glimpse into the deep and enduring bond between teacher and student.
For some reason, people often tell me that my work has a relaxing effect.
v"If I can bring even a small moment of joy into someone's daily life, that would mean everything to me."
With this sentiment at the heart of her craftsmanship, she continues creating. Over time, friends and customers who own her pieces have reached out with messages like, "I find myself talking to my cup without thinking," or "Washing the dishes has become a fun moment of my day."
"I was really surprised when someone told me, ‘I started crying just looking at it.’
There are so many people out there who are working hard without us even realizing it—sometimes to the point where it makes you worry for them. For some reason, people often say that my work has a ‘relaxing effect,’ and I couldn’t be happier to hear that. I never imagined receiving such kind words."
Muroi describes herself as someone who easily gets bored, with her creative focus shifting roughly every year (though she admits that her latest series has lasted unusually long).
Curious about when she comes up with ideas for pieces that can even bring people to tears, I asked her about her creative process. Her response was unexpectedly relatable: "Somewhere in my mind, new designs are always lingering. After about a year of thinking about them, they suddenly emerge—often while I’m in the bath or the bathroom."
It made perfect sense. Perhaps it’s precisely because her ideas surface in moments when she’s completely relaxed that her work carries an effortless charm—something uncalculated, something that naturally puts the viewer at ease.
Looking back on 2024, Muroi shared that it was an incredibly exciting year, with more international orders and solo exhibition invitations than ever before.
In 2025, she is set to hold a solo exhibition at a gallery in Korea—a country she loves. With a smile, she expressed her enthusiasm, saying, "I’d love to visit in person and stay for an unnecessarily long time."
From work to personal favorites, she shared so much during our conversation, making it a truly enjoyable interview filled with laughter from start to finish.
-PROFILE-
Natsumi Muroi
Ceramic Artist,Natsumi Muroi captures small, everyday moments and brings them to life with humor through her illustrations and ceramic works. Her unique, whimsical world has earned a devoted following both in Japan and abroad, bringing smiles to those who encounter her creations.
Instagram：https://www.instagram.com/natsumi_muroi
BACK 1/2 ー 〈User interview〉ーNatsumi Muroi with "Canister bottle"
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