A Life Sculpted in Clay: The World of Kaneko Tohta Kaneko Tohta, born in the mountainous region of Chichibu, Japan, in 1919 and passing away in 2018 at the remarkable age of 98, was a figure whose influence extended far beyond the realm of ceramics. Though initially trained as an economist—graduating from the University of Tokyo and spending years working for the Bank of Japan—Kaneko’s true calling lay in artistic expression, specifically in the transformative power of clay. His journey wasn't one of immediate artistic pursuit; rather, it was a gradual unfolding, shaped by post-war introspec…