Echizen is one of the original six kilns of Japan. Maeda san digs local clay from the paddy fields which he fires with the traditional ash glaze or with either an iron-based Tenmoku glaze or sometimes with a splash of the bright green Oribe glaze.

Short and wiry but with a glint in his eyes, after getting through his initial reserve, Maeda san is really fun to work with. Swallows constantly flit in and out of his workshop where they build their nests to try and escape the snakes. He also shares the workshop with his son who creates monolithic patterned sculptual pieces.