Ipek Kotan × Mochi AN. Collaboration Workshop - Where Mochi Finds Its Home
A plate is never just a surface to place food on.
In Japan, chefs and ceramic artists have long shared a close and respectful relationship.
A truly dedicated chef often had a keen eye for ceramics, just as a skilled potter often had a refined palate and deep appreciation for food.
Though they worked in different mediums, they shared the same sensibility —expressing the same sense of season, place, and life, each through their own craft.
At Mochi AN., we try to carry that same quiet spirit in our way.
As makers of mochi, a traditional Japanese sweet, we’re drawn to how it captures the subtle shifts of the seasons—tiny changes in color, light, or mood, all held within a small, delicate form. And we’re always looking for the right plates to serve it on—ones that can quietly support and reflect that sensibility.
However, we’ve learned that in Europe, finding those plates is not always easy. Many are too large, too deep, or simply not quite in tune with the quiet presence of mochi.
Why is that?
It might have something to do with how plates—like space, like food—are measured and made differently here.
Just Right: A Japanese Sense of Scale
Japanese plates are often measured in “sun（寸）”, an old unit based on the human body. 1 sun is about 3.03 cm—the length of the first joint of a finger.
This traditional way of measuring (sun, shaku, ken...) wasn’t just practical, it expressed a deeper idea:
Beauty lies in what feels just right—not too big, not too small.
In Japan, this “just right” is a philosophy that runs through not only ceramics but also architecture, clothing, and cooking. The size of a plate was never arbitrary—it was part of the harmony between food, space, and the person receiving it.
Western plates, beautiful as they are, are often too large, too deep, or too decorative for the delicate presence of mochi.
That’s why we’ve been dreaming of finding a plate that truly suits our mochi.
When Craft Meets Craft: Mochi & Clay
When we met Ipek Kotan, and she shared the idea of creating a plate for our mochi, it felt like more than chance. It felt quietly meant to be.
Based in Leiden, Ipek is an artist whose ceramic works are held in museum collections across Europe and in private collections around the world. Alongside her artistic practice, she shares her knowledge through teaching, offering others a way to experience the calm and creative rhythm of working with clay.
Together, we shaped the idea of a Mamezara (3.5 sun in Japanese scale, approx. 10 cm)—just the right size, just the right feeling. Ipek crafted each piece by hand and matched the glazes to reflect our seasonal summer mochi flavors, bringing a gentle sense of harmony to every plate.
As part of this workshop, you'll be able to choose your own set of 4 Mamezara plates from her exclusive collection. It’s one of the most special parts of the experience—and one we are genuinely excited to share with you.
"When food and ceramics meet, a quiet story unfolds on the table."
This is a small, intimate workshop with only 7 spots available.
If it speaks to you, we’d love to welcome you there.
🎟 Click here to book your spot
Ipek Kotan ✖️ Mochi AN. Mochi Workshop - Summer Edition
🗓️ Date & Time : 2025/07/06 Sunday 10.30-13.00
📍 Place: Studio Ipek Kotan (Leiden) Haagweg 4, F14, 2311 AA Leiden
📝 What’s included:
– Taste seasonal mochi
– Watch a live demonstration
– Make 4 pieces of mochi yourself
– Enjoy a quiet tea moment with dessert and matcha
– Take home a beautiful set of 4 handmade plates by Ipek Kotan
👛 Price : €125 incl.VAT p.p