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TOP -> 2014/5/24 Densakugama Kinsei "Negora" by Konatsuya Release information
Aritayaki's heresy "Densakugama" has carefully baked Negora which is a monster character created by the female indian-ink drawing artist"Konatsu".
The ultimate gem is handmade one by one by a skilled craftsman.
Densakugama Kinsei "Negora" by Konatsuya (Maneki neko／Mike)
[Ordering term] From May 24th (Sat) 2014 0:00 to June 30st (Mon) 2014 23:59
We interviewd Konatsu who created Negora.
─The untold story behind the creation of NegoraThere is a monster illustration series called "Tsuki kage asobi" in my work which was inspired by the Ukiyoe artist, Utagawa Kuniyoshi.
In Utagawa Kunuyushi's work, there is a huge monster cat that I was inspired by. I brushed it up and created the character Negora.

There are many more monster characters in Kuniyoshi's work and I was influenced a lot by them.
Monsters are supposed to be scary but if you check the Kaijus in Ultraman closely, there are many charming monsters and that's what I like about. When I draw a monster,
I try to contain the elements of "cuteness" besides "coolness" and "scariness" because I like the cute creatures.

Negora was a cat Kaiju so I didn't have to add cuteness to it but I try to draw the Kaiju's coolness and the animal's cuteness with balance when I draw.
My cat named Mimi was also a model of Negora. She is always violent and angry. Negora's characteristic sharp points on its back was inspired by Mimi's hair bristles.
I always thought Mimi was "a cat like a monster" because of her huge size and when I think back on it now, Mimi was Negora indeed.

Negora debuted in collaboration with MAX TOY. It was not difficult to design Negora because there was already a existing drawing of a giant cat monster.
However, it took me a long time deciding the color pattern since its was my first time thinking of a Sofubi color pattern.
─Thoughts towards NegoraI think that the best method to create a monster is adopting an animal material into a monster and Negora was the typical creation.
Shibara,the Shibainu-like Kaiju was released later which had the same design concept as Negora. Having this concept, I thought it will also attract women who would normally not be
interested in Kaijus. In fact, I am receiving more female fans and many of them request for my illustration of Negora at signing events.

In order to fulfill my desire to faithfully adopt my illustrations into three-dimensional form, I established Konatsu-ya brand and released sofubi such as Negora, Shibara, Migora and Mamera. In the future, I would like to produce Negora in different poses. Also I would like to do collaborations with other companies to produce more Negora goods.

I was so thrilled to collaborate with Aritayaki porcelain and produce Negora in such a big size. The world of Negora is basically from a Japanese background so it was extreamly lucky
to have Negora adopted in a Japanese traditional three-dimensional method such as Aritayaki.
I'm happy to see the very nice finishing which has a different kind of warmth compared to Sofubis.
─Message to the fans of Negora
I really appreciate the fans of Negora. There are many heavy users who collect many variations of sofubis and it's because of them that I'm able to release new design of Negora constantlly. It is really encouraging and I am really grateful.

I receive messages that people became fans after seeing Negora in events at stores or POPBOX and those messages are
encouraging me to produce more new designs. I'll do my best to increase recognition of Negora and try to release more Negora
KONATSU
We interviewed Mr.Yokota of DENSAKUGAMA who produced Negora.
─History of DensakugamaDensaku Yokota opened DENSAKUGAMA in 1982 in Arita. First, we started as a manufacturer of Japanese dishes for one of the Japan's leading western food company.
Later, we started production of handmade Koimari style dishes and got huge popularity. However, since other manufacturers began mass production of Imari style with transcribe,
we started production of dishes with glazing figures on the pottery. After so many trial and error,
we established a technique for laminating pottery and porcelain and obtained the "Utility model #3052748" in 1998.

With this technique, we created "Heisei Nabeshima series" and "Awasegamahen series".
We began developing low-temperatured baked porcelain in 2009 and released "Shining China Series" in September 2010.

"Shining China" recieved the Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Award at "Kyushu, Yamaguchi Ceramics Exhibition" the following year.
The history of Densakugama is a history of development. We would like to continue making things by evolving the techniques which must be updated and at the same time,
protect the traditions that should not be changed.
─Story of struggles in making NegoraNegora is made with mold casting. The liquid clay is poured into the plaster mold.
Unlike simple form like vessels, due to the complex shape such as the bifurcated tails and bumpy back,
we had a hard time taking them out from the mold. We often ended up bending or breaking them trying to remove by force.

In coloring, compared to ordinary paint,it is very difficult to get the color we want because we use an inorganic paint for the pottery and it needs to be burned.
We repeated so many times to formulate the paint and get the right color. In addition, you need great adjustments and concentration to handle the airbrush.
─The main atractions of Negora
Please touch and enjoy the texture of smooth surface which makes you think it is made of glass as well as the vividness of the color. Each Negora is slightly different because they are all handmade and we would like you to enjoy the uniqueness.
We would like you to see the products and notice that these kind of manufacturing is possible with pottery.
Hirofumi Yokota
DENSAKUGAMA President