Himeno Toyokawa is the central protagonist who moves with her father to the city of Tajimi after his company goes bankrupt. The financial hardship that prompted the relocation brings them to her late mother's hometown, a region celebrated for its Mino ware ceramics. Her mother, Himena Tokigawa, was a renowned potter whose works are well known in the area, but Himeno was only four years old when she lost her mother to illness and retains few direct memories of her.

At the start of her time in Tajimi, Himeno knows very little about pottery and does not initially grasp the artistic importance of her mother's legacy. She begins her new school life as a somewhat reserved and uncertain girl, particularly lacking confidence in her own abilities. Her perspective begins to change when a classmate, the energetic Mika Kukuri, recognizes a mug made by her mother and invites her to visit the school's pottery club. The scent of clay in the club room stirs a faint sensory memory of her mother at a potter's wheel, sparking a deep personal interest in the craft as a way to connect with the parent she lost.

Determined to learn more about her mother and follow in her artistic footsteps, Himeno joins the pottery club alongside her childhood friend Naoko Naruse and the club's president, Touko Aoki. Her primary motivation throughout the series is this desire for connection, as she works to understand her mother's passion and philosophy through the tactile process of shaping clay. A visit to a local ceramics museum where she sees her mother's drawings and project notes deepens her understanding and fuels her ambition to create her own meaningful work.

Himeno's role in the story is that of a dedicated learner and the emotional core of the group. Her relationships with the other club members are central to her growth. She finds a rival and source of encouragement in Touko, who shares her own struggles with the weight of a family legacy in pottery, helping Himeno realize the importance of developing a personal style rather than simply trying to imitate her mother. Her friendship with Naoko is a steady and supportive presence, while Mika's enthusiasm helps push her out of her comfort zone.

A significant part of Himeno's development involves her relationship with her father. He reserves a special spot for one of her pieces in the family's new restaurant, a gesture of support that also places considerable pressure on her to create a masterpiece worthy of her mother's name. This expectation leads to a creative block, as she becomes preoccupied with achieving perfection and external validation. Her turning point comes when she decides not to place one of her own works in that spot. Instead, she displays a piece made by a visiting potter, signifying her newfound understanding that her craft is for personal expression and daily use, not for enshrinement as untouchable art. By the end of the series, she has grown into a more confident artist and person, having shaped not only clay but also her own identity, finding her unique creative path and a tangible connection to her mother's spirit.

As a novice potter, Himeno's notable abilities are not innate talent but rather her persistence, curiosity, and capacity for growth. She learns the fundamentals of the craft, including working on a pottery wheel and firing a kiln, and develops the skill to create personalized mugs with different shapes and finishes tailored to the personalities of her friends and family. More importantly, she learns to listen to her own creative voice, realizing that the true value of her work lies in the sincerity of the effort and the joy it brings to everyday life, rather than in living up to a perceived legacy.