Australian-born potter Euan Craig is a master of Mashiko ware. Mashiko ware originated in the town of Mashiko. Most Mashiko-ware ceramics are practical vessels like dishes. Craig first encountered Mashiko ware at age 18. Captivated by its rustic beauty, he has been making his own Mashiko ware for the past 22 years. Craig aims to craft objects that will be part of everyday life. His pottery is made to be used, not admired from afar. He says the beauty of his dishes only truly emerges when food is placed on them. In March 2011, Craig's kiln was destroyed in the Great East Japan Earthquake. But in June 2012, having relocated his family, he completed a new kiln and restarted his career. Today, we learn about Craig's daily life and work as an artisan, and we witness his passion for Mashiko ware and the beauty of functionality.

The crested ibis (scientific name Nipponia nippon) has beautiful pale rosy feathers that have been loved in Japan for centuries. The crested ibis used to live all over Japan, but at one point, because of overhunting and the destruction of its natural habitat, it disappeared from the wild. After a lot of hard work, crested ibises were successfully bred in captivity. And several years ago, they were reintroduced into the wild in Japan. Currently, the crested ibis lives in just one place in Japan: Sado Island. Farmers in Sado are working hard to create a pure natural habitat for the ibises. Some of them are tending their rice fields without any agricultural chemicals. On this edition of BEGIN Japanology, our theme is crested ibises. The story of this bird's disappearance and eventual revival reveals various ways in which people are learning to coexist with the natural world.