Chihato Ikeda is a ceramic artist who fires her work in an anagama-style climbing kiln. Drawing on the distinct qualities of materials such as white Tamba clay, red clay, and raw native soil, she explores techniques including carbonization firing and ash glazing. She embraces the unpredictable transformations wrought by flame and ash inside the kiln, seeking a unique character in each finished piece. Her work centers on everyday vessels such as flower vases and rice bowls, and she refines her craft through careful record-keeping after each firing.