Who We Are

In 1989, Kumi Oniki opened Sara Japanese Pottery along the Upper East Side neighborhood of Manhattan. For over thirty years, the shop has centered around Oniki’s philosophy of bringing high-quality Japanese tableware into everyday life.

Naoki Uemura joined the team in 1996, furthering Sara’s focus on the ingenious, one-of-a-kind craftsmanship behind every piece. Over the years, the store has grown into a specialty shop that offers not only ceramics, but also sculptures, paintings, photographs, and more. 

We also frequently host exhibitions such as the 2005 “Connecting Through Clay, Karatsu Pottery”. Featured in the New York Times as well as many other media outlets, the event attracted over 300 visitors on its opening day.

In July of 2018, the works of 30 artists were showcased at the “Sara Japanese Pottery 30^th Anniversary Exhibition”, held at the Die Firma art gallery in Cooper Square. Eighteen of the featured artists came from all over the world to the opening reception, celebrating Sara’s deep commitment to showcasing artists from all walks of life.