The Road Through Miyama [B0016]

1991 PB. A memoir of the author's apprenticeship to a master potter in Japan provides a guide to an exacting craft, a personal portrait of the village, and a perceptive look at the cultural roots of modern Japan.

From Amazon/GoodReads reviews: "Lovely account of a young American woman in the 1980s spending two years in Japan as a potter's apprentice. Beautifully written. Intelligent and heartfelt insights into a foreign culture. Masterful and loving description of the work of a potter."; "I stumbled upon this Gem! What an incredibly interesting account of a young woman's time as a potter's apprentice in a very rural setting. Well written, informative and just a pleasure to read. Wish I was in my late twenties to experience something like this. What a joy to read. Now I want to purchase exquisitely thin porcelain tea cups !!!!"; "Thoughtful and very well written. Philip's writing style hits all the marks for me. Insightful, interesting and well paced. I am neither a potter nor drawn to books about Japan, yet I leave this read with an appreciation and interest in Japanese village culture - and similarly in the place the craft of pottery holds (or held) in Japan. A perfect memoir."