Mitsuko Siegrist of Tsuchikara Pottery grew up in Japan. She was attracted to hand crafted ceramics at an early age.

She started creating ceramics in 1994 along with the practice of the Way of Tea. Tea practice involves the study of arts and crafts, poetry, painting, calligraphy, flower arranging, woodworking, architecture, gardening, Kaiseki cuisine, and tea sweets making, etc. Studying traditional Japanese culture has strongly influenced her work.

Her goal is to create works of art that have soul and sensibility. In the process of designing and making food vessels, she is mindful to leave space so that the food itself completes an authentic dining experience. And she hopes that the users would feel something warm and special through their experience as if they were reading the story by the makers.