LIFE / Lifestyle / Kateigaho International Japan Edition

Crafts that connect food and the table: Captivated by clay and awamori — Paul Lorimer

Paul Lorimer relaxes in the remodeled living room of his traditional Okinawan-style home. Awamori jars of all sizes fill shelves as well as the alcove area, waiting for their time to ripen. The largest of the jars hold nearly 90 liters, and even the middle-sized jars hold 36. 'If they're too small, the clay ultimately overpowers the liquor and puts the flavor off balance,' he says. He also warns, 'When you buy a new jar, the most important first step is a deep cleaning to get rid of any harsh residues left from the firing.' The suggested process is onerous enough that Sakiyama Shuzo offers a service to take care of it for those who are interested. | KENGO TARUMI

Aug 24, 2019

"The composition of the clay in the pot has a huge effect on the flavor of the awamori," says Paul Lorimer, holding forth with enthusiasm about Okinawa's unique distilled rice liquor, which is aged in clay pots. Lorimer is a ceramic artist living in Nanjo, Okinawa.

Discussing storage and aging, he goes on, "It's pretty amazing, actually, that the awamori might develop a very pleasing aroma but still not taste very good. Or vice versa, it might taste fine but lack aroma — all because of differences in the clay. For example, clays from southern Okinawa contain more calcium, which makes them highly suitable for ceramics work, but if used for awamori jars, they tend to instill a metallic flavor. So I prefer clays from the north, which are better for bringing out the sweetness."

Lorimer originally hails from New Zealand. Having always been fond of making things with his hands, he apprenticed himself to well-known local potter Barry Brickell at the age of 19. But Lorimer also loved the ocean and traveling, so he took time off from the pottery workshop to crew on sailboats and visit other countries. Eventually, his interest in Ko-Bizen (Old Bizen) pottery led to an extended stay in Japan so he could study ceramics in Okayama. His memories of tropical seas beckoned, and he visited Okinawa 3½ years later on what he intended to be just a short bicycle tour of Ishigaki Island.