From: Yoshiko Ratliff [yoshikor@gmail.com]
Sent: Saturday, August 08, 2009 9:44 PM
To: pdah@optonline.net
Subject: kiln situation in Japan
Hi Phil,

I'm Yoshiko Ratliff.  I'm not sure if you remember me, but I attended the workshop "The Crystalline Spectrum" last year and we talked a little while.  I saw you have the Fallonator now, and congratulations on the good results.

We visited my parents in Japan and just got back.  I saw some interesting electric kilns in Tokyo and I just want to let you know about them.
They are made with new ceramic which is used for the space shuttle, so it won't be so hot and you can place it anywhere.  The kilns I saw were placed in a room on the 3rd floor of a regular house. You can do reduction firing using wood, oil, charcoal and propane. The propane tank which is about 5"x6"x6" is sold separately.  It's Japanese, but the link is www.gokurakugama.co.jp

Also I found out they already have been using microwave kilns in Japan.  The place I found was far from Tokyo and I didn't have much time for myself this time, so I couldn't go see it.  It's suppose to be able to dry and fire in a short time.  It's interesting.

Enjoy the rest of the summer and happy firing!
Yoshiko