The Japanese tea ceremony is an artform in itself and the choice of ceramic utensils used in serving the tea is given careful consideration including the aesthetic. This has contributed over the centuries to a wide appreciation of the ceramic arts in Japan .Competitions and exhibitions are regularly organised and they attract media coverage and wide interest from ceramic connoisseurs and collectors. A Japanese potter can have his career trajectory quickly elevated by gaining awards in these contests and this has led to continual improvisation, experimentation and refinement in the ceramic crafts. The older traditions of their pottery methods are