Jomon-Era pottery, created roughly 4,000-5,000 years ago, is considered to be the oldest pottery in Japan. Jomon (縄文) literally means “rope-patterned” and as the name implies, much of the pottery was elaborately designed with coils and imprints, rendering them more decorative than functional. “The decoration and modeling of Jomon pottery is designed for the wishes and prayers for life,” explains Ryunosuke Okazaki, a graduating fashion student who recently created a series of haute couture dresses inspired by Jomon pottery.