1845-1914
male
Born in Koishikawa, Edo, on December 3rd as son of Sato Jizaemon, who held an official position within the Edo shogunate. Adopted by Kawahara Yoichiro, vassal of the shogunate, in the 5th year of Ansei (1858). When the Meiji period began, he served within the Meiji government and served within the secretariat section of the Vienna World’s Fair in 1872 and as general affairs accountant for the ceramics factory set up by the Ministry of the Interior. Established a private business called “Hyoike-en” in Fukagawa, Tokyo, in 1873 along with businessman Hirose Mitsumasa where they gathered together excellent painters from the attached ceramics factory. Also served as judge for exhibitions in Japan and overseas, a councilor for the Dainippon Ceramics Association, and a member of the ceramics section of Japan’s first fine arts organization: Tatuikekai. He relocated for a time to Nagoya and then Kyoto in his later years. As one who helped lay the foundation for modern ceramics, calls to reappraise his significance have increased in recent years.
