After gaining an insight into Zen philosophy and the tea ceremony, Shiga Shigeo established a ceramics studio in Yamanashi near Kyoto. From 1966 to 1979 Shiga resided in Australia, first working for several years near Mittagong in the southern New South Wales tablelands, and then at Terry Hills in northern Sydney. In the tradition of mingei, Shiga experimented with the effects that could be gained from local materials. During his years in Australia he influenced a young group of ceramists to experiment with using local rocks, clays and ash glazes to produce a uniquely Australian style of pottery.