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During your stay

Studio Rules and Etiquette

Welcome to Kouraku Kiln’s residency ! 

The following guideline will ensure everyone has a pleasant stay and follows the same rules. As the residency is a shared space, we expect all residents to follow the same guide lines.

Residents that do not follow the rules and ethics code will see their studio privileges removed. The Kouraku kiln reserves the right to terminate a residency if the participant is deemed un cooperative.

What is expected of residents

It is important to maintain a cordial and polite relation with the kiln staff. In order to work together, respect is essential. The Kouraku kiln does not tolerate verbal abuse or harassment. We understand cultural differences and language barriers can provoke misunderstandings and frustrations. It is important to take the time to address any problems as soon as they arise. 

We expect the you to keep a good personal hygiene at work and in the house:

  • Clean behaviour in the kitchen and bathroom.

  • No screaming will be tolerated.

  • Avoid putting your feet on the furniture, no spitting on the ground.

  • No smoking in the facilities, house or studio.

  • Don’t leaving clothes, personal items or garbage lying around.

  • Watch out for sneezing or coughing technique, if sick a mask must be worn.

  • Avoid dirty or smelly clothes and body.

If you want to avoid insects in your room, don't leave clothes lying around on the floor and avoid eating in your bedroom. Ants will find the smallest spec of food and Mukades love dark humid corners.

The residency house is a shared house. All residents and interns must ask permission before inviting outside guests. 

The studio and factory are work spaces. 

Residents have 24h access to the studio. The table and workspace must be cleaned before leaving the studio. If you don't have time to clean, you don't have time to work.

Residents must make sure access is allowed before taking guests in the factory. Factory access is only during working hours. A resident should never go alone in the factory. Using factory equipment or material is not permitted. If a resident is in need of specific tools they must ask for special access. 

Studio Rules

  • Keep the studio clean. All residents have access to the studio,  all the tools and machinery. After working please clean the space so others can use it. Store your work on the shelves and in the proper containers. Leave all tabletops free when you are done.

  • Don't touch it if it's not yours. It may be tempting to touch or move someone's work but this may damage it. Please respect other people’s working space.

  • No smoking inside. This applies to all the buildings on the Kouraku property. There are designated smoking areas. At the studio, please smoke near the parking lot.  

  • Turn off lights and appliances. Whenever you leave the studio please turn off all the lights, air conditioner and heaters. Also close doors and windows. 

  • Keep the kitchen clean. All Studio residents have access to the kitchen. After cooking please clean the space so others can use it. If you are not familiar with cooking on a gas burner please ask for help. 

  • Garbage, same as the house garbage rules.

  • If you are sick, please wear a mask in the communal area.

Kouraku Kiln’s house rules

Although the building is not traditional Japanese style, the house etiquette is. The following guideline will ensure everyone has a pleasant stay and follows the same rules. If any of the house’s appliances are unfamiliar to you, don't be shy to ask for help. 

  • No smoking inside. This applies to all the buildings on the Kouraku property. There are designated smoking areas. At the house, please smoke near the bicycle parking to the left of the house’s main entrance.  

  • Turn off lights and appliances. Whenever you leave a room please turn off all the lights, air conditioner and heaters. Also close doors and windows in the common areas. *except for the fan in the shower room.

  • Keep the kitchen clean. All residents have access to the kitchen. After cooking please clean the space so others can use it. If you are not familiar with cooking on a gas burner please ask for help. 

  • Garbage, Japanese garbage disposing can be a little confusing. Almost everything goes into the green bag but if you are not sure what bag to put something in please ask someone. If you put something in the wrong bag,  it will not be collected.

  • Shoes , In Japan shoes are usually not worn indoors. Please remove your shoes before entering your room or the bathroom area. Traditionally, if there is a step to enter a room you should remove your shoes. You can wear your shoes in the kitchen and the living room. You can also use the house slippers indoors. 

  • Bathroom and shower room, In Japan we wash in the shower before taking a bath. That is why the shower is outside the bathtub. You can use the soap and shampoo in the bathroom. Make sure to always leave the fan on. 

  • Laundry, Please make sure you will be there to retrieve your laundry when the cycle is over. Other people may want to use the machine after you. Also, in summer wet clothes will get smelly if left in the machine for a long time.

  • If you are sick, please wear a mask in the communal area.

Arita Town Garbage

Green bag Burnables

Food and Organic material, Styrofoam, Paper, Cardboard, Fabric,  most Plastic.

Bleu bag Recyclable 

Glass and aluminium, Drink aluminium cans, glass bottles. Please remove the labels and rinse the container.

Pink bag non burnables

Porcelain, metal, food tins and can, glass. Please wash the food container before putting them in the bag.

Transparent bag Plastic bottle (PET)

PET bottle only. Please remove the label and the cap. Rinse and do not squish. The bottles have to remain whole.

What to do if you are sick

If you are very ill, contact a Kiln staff immediately. 

If you feel a little sick but still want to go to the studio, please wear a mask, out of respect for the other residents and the kiln’s staff. If you are coughing or have a runny nose a mask is mandatory in any common area of the house or in the studio. We have masks at the house and the office. They are free and we will give you as many as you need. 

Also, if you have allergies to pollen or dust we recommend a mask to minimise your discomfort. 

If you need to go to the hospital, the clinic or drug store, let our staff know. We will accompany you there. 

Drugstore address in Arita:

Drugstore Mori: Nanbaru Ko-521-1, Arita, Saga 844-0027

Cosmos: Maruo Hei-1945 , Arita, Saga 844-0023

Emergency numbers

Jérémie Paré-Julien: +81-70-4368-2450

Takada Ryoji: +81-09-3133-2752

Tokunaga Takanobu: +81-08-5288-0156

Police station: 110

Ambulance and fire department: 119

Emergency Free Wi-Fi Service:     00000JAPAN

In the event of a disaster the main Japanese mobile carrier will offer a free Wi-Fi service accessible in public places like shopping malls, community centers, airports, restaurants or convenient stores. Since this access is open to anyone and unsecured please take the necessary safety  precautions..