Past Program

Ceramics in Japan + Taiwan

This course emphasized the unique opportunity to learn Japanese Ceramic History and a hands-on study in Taiwan to learn new studio practices of clay art and its inherent characteristics and its possibilities as both utilitarian and sculptural ceramics. The focus of this class was on the foundation skills of hand-building, wheel-throwing, and surface decoration in a rich historic and cultural context of study in Japan and Taiwan. The elements of this course were taught through lectures, demonstrations, critiques, and assignments.

The Wintersession Travel Course 2026 application will open on August 15, 2025 and close on October 1, 2025. The opportunity to apply for scholarship is embedded in the course application.

At-A-Glance

What

Programs

Where

Tokyo, Japan
Kyoto, Japan
Tainan City, Taiwan
Taipei, Taiwan

When

Winter 2026

Course Dates: Jan 4, 2026 — Jan 26, 2026

Who

Open to RISD students, Brown University students

Minimum 2.5 GPA required. First year students are eligible for this course with approval from their dean, collected within the application.

Faculty

Shoji Satake

Academic Credits

Department

Ceramics

Cost

$6900

Includes accommodation, some group meals, field trips, local transportation, roundtrip airfare to Taiwan, museum entrances, health and travel insurance. Airfare to Japan is not included.

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About this course

Course Description

This course emphasizes the unique opportunity to learn Japanese Ceramic History and a hands-on study in Taiwan to learn new studio practices of clay art and its inherent characteristics and its possibilities as both utilitarian and sculptural ceramics. The focus of this class will be on the foundation skills of hand-building, wheel-throwing, and surface decoration in a rich historic and cultural context of study in Japan and Taiwan. The elements of this course will be taught through lectures, demonstrations, critiques, and assignments.

Application + Registration

The entire application process will be completed using an online application portal. You will be able to upload, request and submit all required documents there. Apply to a Wintersession Travel Course

Apply to a Wintersession Travel Course

The Wintersession Travel Course 2026 application is now closed.

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Eligibility

If you are a RISD or Brown University student with a GPA of 2.5 and up, you are eligible to apply. Permission of the instructor is required and is based upon application and selection.

RISD Students

Unless otherwise noted on the course page, all Wintersession Travel Courses are open to students in any year of study. Please check the course pages on this website carefully to learn about any restrictions specific to your chosen travel course.

If your current cumulative GPA is 2.5 or above, you are eligible for registration. RISD students seeking an exception to the GPA requirement academic policy should follow the instructions set by the Registrars’ Office.

Brown University Students

If you are a Brown University student with a GPA of 2.5 and up, you are eligible to apply. Admission for Wintersession Travel Courses is highly selective and approval from your Dean of Students (or equivalent) is required and collected in the course application. Please read carefully through the application materials and steps above to make sure you are preparing your application to the best of your ability.

Cancellation Policy

RISD reserves the right to cancel a course due to under-enrollment or for reasons related to health and safety.

As such, all students are advised not to purchase flights for participation in Wintersession Travel Courses until the travel is confirmed, which happens no later than one week after the final Wintersession Travel Course payment period.

In cases where Wintersession Travel Courses do not reach minimum capacity, the course may be cancelled after the last day of Wintersession Travel Course registration period. In case of cancellation, all payments will be refunded in full. Any cost incurred for travel reservations in such situations is the participant’s sole responsibility.

Withdrawal Policy

Requesting to withdraw from a RISD global learning program, including Wintersession Travel Courses, prior to the start of the course is highly discouraged and requires a formal process outlined in the RISD course withdrawal policy.

It is not possible for a student to drop a Wintersession Travel Course via the standard Add/Drop process after it has commenced. In the case of unforeseen and extenuating circumstances (and only after students have spoken with the faculty lead and RISD Global for approval to withdraw from the program), students should be aware that no refund will be issued.

RISD Wintersession Travel Courses follow the RISD withdrawal policy for off-campus global learning programs

1:1 Advising Session

Have questions? The RISD Global team is available to meet for a 1:1 advising session. We can give you more information about your study options, help you figure out which program makes sense for you, and assist you with the application process.

Schedule an Appointment