mel jacobson on fri 2 jun 06
my time in japan was very professional...but, i set it up to
be that.
i rolled into kyoto with about 5 thousand dollars in yen. cash.
had an apartment for our family, and the school paid
me half a salary. i was independent. (of course, when
am i not?)
i was 39 years old, had a master's degree, was a
professional potter and teacher.. i had status.
i never took anything from mr. uchida. not a dime.
i worked hard, very hard, long hours honing my skills.
the first six months i made 10,000 pots. all counted by
mr. uchida. perfect, `same, same, same`.
i ran errands, as i could drive, i became his driver.
i could fix anything in the studio. he let me learn to
glaze..fussssy. i did mug handles..and did it so well
i got them all. i helped him unload kilns. i unloaded
clay trucks with the boys. and, without his knowledge
i would help mrs. uchida with her work. i arrived
an hour before the boys...cleaned and got their
wheels ready for throwing. i did that on my own.
made a deep impression on the throwers....they liked
and respected me...and they taught me to throw the
kyoto method.
because i kept my own independence, it became obvious
that mr. uchida started to treat me as his assistant, his
potter, his son. he would take me places with him...he
would have a show and tell me to get 15 pots ready to show
with him. he was paying me back with status. the more
status i achieved, the harder he would work me...`melsan,
our faces cannot be red, we must present great work to
our customers.` so, more work, more shows, more status.
i did not go to japan to earn money, or have shows. i went
to become a total potter. because of that, i got many
other benefits. like:
a solo show at matsuya gallery, ginza, tokyo. i followed a show
by hamada. i met him as i was setting up my show. he was very
nice, kind and gave some nice compliments. but, he knew that
i was having a show because uchida made it happen...it was never
me, it was him. but, if i had been greedy, sour, or a taker...i would
have just been an apprentice. or, the low guy on the pole.
i designed pots every nite on paper. two or three.
i made pots that mr. uchida had designed, so he could
see them in clay. i did everything that each of the workers did.
i learned their job. i was the only person in that 5 man studio
that could do every job. and do it well, never as well as each
of them specialized in, but at least damn well. and i could use
tools that they never realized could be used.
i was a good old american boy, resourceful as hell.
just like men and women potters here in north america.
`if you don't know, learn.` then do it.
so.
if you go to japan to be a group effort apprentice, i am sure
you cannot have status. i would not do that. but, that
is how i think. i did not study religion, social norms, and i did
not want to become japanese...i could not do that. i did what
i needed, what was expected of me...then went home. started
my pottery fresh. it worked for me.
in fact, mr. uchida, mr. hamada and mr. leach all said the same
thing to me..in person....`be true to yourself, be true to your heritage,
and be
your own potter.` i have tried to be that, do that.
mel
from: mel/minnetonka.mn.usa
website: http://www.visi.com/~melpots/ (new website)
http://my.pclink.com/~melpots3 old
Clayart page link: http://www.visi.com/~melpots/clayart.html
Fonda Hancock on sat 3 jun 06
I read and reread this post..when you share experiences like these it
enriches us all. I think it underscores my belief that the only thing I
have a hard time forgiving in any worker is bone-laziness. I teach 5th
grade..yeah school is out til Aug. 1... and I never lose patience with the
student who is really having a hard time with material, but who is
obviously trying. I want to strangle those who have plenty of intelligence
but who won't try.. I make many allowances for ADD ADHD amd every sort of
emotional upset that kids undergo (usually at the behest of
their "parents"), but their is that occasional kid who just can't be
bothered that drives me crazy.
It appears from your experience in Japan that you were afforded respect
because you demonstrated that no job was "beneath" you. It seems because
of that you were awarded with an openess of instruction that greatly
enhanced you knowledge. And now you pass it on. Thank you, and thank you
for working so hard to keep clayart up and running. You don't know how
many of us "mostly lurkers" who look forward to reading and learning from
this list.
Fonda in Tennessee, where on this first day of summer break it is
beautiful and I have already thrown 25 lbs. of clay into 8 decent bottles.
Fred Parker on sun 4 jun 06
Mel:
Thank you for sharing this wonderful story -- entertaining, edifying and
enriching.
Back in the 1990's I decided to make a major change in my life. I bought
a retail franchise business that required eight or so employees to
operate. It was in the automotive aftermarket services arena -- very
different from architecture, where I was at the time.
After a few years I sold the business because I grew tired of having to
devote my entire life to defending the business FROM its own employees. I
never understood why anyone would deliberately sabotage the organization
that provided his livlihood. I still don't understand that, but it was
routine, day-to-day reality -- the absolute opposite of the attitude and
approach you described.
I was accustomed to a world where attention to detail, craftsmanship,
going beyond the norm, pride in one's work and teamwork were all part of
what we did. In my new world, it was more about what one could NOT do and
still be paid for doing it, how far one could push the the limits of abuse
and not be fired for it and generally, what one could "get away with."
What always baffled me was why some people take your "Japan experience"
approach while others become my drugged-out, probated, community service
serving payroll parasites.
I don't mean to suggest ALL were like that, but many were. In my first
year in business I had 52 employees -- all to maintain a crew of eight. I
didn't fire many of them. Most just disappeared without a word. Opening
time came, and they just didn't show up for work -- ever again...
The really sad point here is that every one of those failed employees
COULD have commanded the same level of respect you described. Not only
that, their incomes would have increased dramatically and their job
security would have been assured. They could live in nicer houses, buy
bigger, more powerful bass boats and take vacations to fun places.
But instead of working to make the company stronger, with more satisfied
customers, more business, more promotion opportunities and more income to
spread around, they searched for oportunities to sabotage customers' cars
just for the fun of it. This, of course, made for more expense to
correct, more unhappy customers and less money for bonuses, raises and the
like. They refused to believe me when I tried and tried and tried to
explain the links between quality of our product and their personal
incomes. When times were good and I made it a point to pay bonuses, they
never connected cause and effect. In time, I gave up trying.
In my studied and pondered personal opinion -- based on some very real-
life experiences, it all comes down to personal choices and the pride one
has in himself/herself. You decided what you wanted in Japan, and you
found a way to get it -- although you had to get your hands dirty in the
process. Today, years later, I am sure the benefits continue to accrue.
Similarly, those employees I describe decided what their lives would be
through some twisted, indecipherable logic, and they also decided how they
would achieve their visions of life.
I'm guessing that most of them have managed to fulfil those expectations
they set for themselves. Even then, a common excuse for not being able to
come into work on Saturday (at time-and-a-half pay) was, "I have to do
community service..." or, "I have to meet with my probation officer"
suggesting to me they might have had a bigger problem "getting with the
program" than shown in my shop.
I wish every young person could read your Japan story. Many Truths (with
a capital "T" there...
Thanks for telling it.
Fred Parker
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