Japanese potters – O

Ota Toshihide 太田俊英

1938-?malekutani porcelainActive in pottery painting in the style of Yoshidaya at Terai, where Kutani ware is thriving. He made his debut at the Contemporary Art Exhibition in 1973 when he was awarded a prize. Since then, he has won prizes at the New Kutani Ceramic Art Exhibition, Japan Contemporary Craft Exhibition, Japan New Craft Exhibition, and the Nitten exhibition. (more…)

Ota Takahiro 太田孝宏

1942-malekoishiwara potteryHe has inherited the tradition of the folk kiln and creates pottery with his father Kumao. Awarded the Prefectural Governor’s Prize at the Prefectural Exhibition, the Japan Mingeikan Prize, the West Japan Ceramics Competition Governor’s Prize, the Japan Ceramic Art Exhibition Prize, and many others. Director of the Prefectural Artist’s Association. Committee member of the judging committee for the prefectural exhibition. (more…)

Ota Shigeki 太田成喜

1944-2007malekoishiwara potteryBorn in Koishiwara. Graduated from Waseda University. Awarded the Honorable Mention at the Japan Folk Art Exhibition, the Iwataya Prize at the Denso Exhibition, the Grand Prize at the Japan Folk Art Exhibition, the Prime Minister’s Prize at the Japan Folk Art Exhibition, the Nishi Nippon Television West Award at the West Japan Folk Art Exhibition, the Governor’s Prize at the West Japan Folk Art Exhibition, and many others. (more…)

Ota Keizo 太田慶三

1950-2001malekasama potteryBorn in Tokyo. Graduated from Musashino Art University in 1966, majoring in ceramics. Trained at the Ibaraki Prefecture Kasama Ceramic Art Training Institute in 1968. Awarded many prizes at the Japan Ceramics Exhibition and the New Traditional Crafts Exhibition and the Japan Traditional Crafts Exhibition. Solo exhibitions at Isetan Shinjuku and Takashimaya in Yokohama. Mainly works in gray and black glaze and iron painting. A regular member of the Japan Artisans Society. (more…)

Ota Kumao 太田熊雄

1912-1992malekoishiwara potteryHe was born in Koishiwara, the ancient home of Japanese folk pottery. He was influenced by Yanagi Muneyoshi and Hamada Shoji and devoted to folk art. Awarded the Kyusyu-Yamaguchi Folk Art Exhibition Association Prize, the Minister of Education’s Award at the Prefectural Exhibition, the Brussels Expo Grand Prix, the Japan Folk Art Museum Prize, and others. He has served as a judge of the Japan Folk Art Museum. (more…)

Ohta Itaru 大田至

1948-maleGraduated from the Department of Management Engineering, Tokyo University of Technology in 1972. Opened a kiln in Chichibu in 1950. Awarded the Governor’s Prize at the Saitama Prefectural Exhibition, Special Selection at the Saitama Prefectural Exhibition, and others. Selected for the Japan Ceramic Art Exhibition, the New Traditional Craft Exhibition, and the Japan Traditional Craft Exhibition. Pursues a fresh sense of decoration with stamp. (more…)

Oshima Hisaoki 大嶋久興

1939-malemino potteryOribe, Kizeto and Kohiki are his main works. Graduated from Gifu Prefectural Pottery Experiment Station in 1967. Awarded the Nagano Prefectural Governor’s Prize at the Asahi Ceramic Art Exhibition, the Chuunichi Ceramic Art Exhibition and other prizes, and was selected for the Tokai Traditional Craft Exhibition and other prizes. The production of ceramic boards for the binding of Kumagai Morikazu’s works has been a hot topic. (more…)

Oshio Masando 7th 七代 大塩正人

1908-1992maleakahada potteryOne of the Seven Enshu kilns that makes Akahada ware. Won prizes at the Nitten and other competitions. Director of the Nara Prefecture Craft Association, the Nara Prefecture Artisans Association, and the Nara Prefecture Tourism Association. A judge of the prefectural exhibition. Formerly a lecturer at Nara University of Education and a professor at Nara Art Junior College. (more…)

Ooshio Masayoshi 大塩正義

1933-maleakahada potteryAlso know as Ooshio Masando the 8th. He inherited the Akahada-yaki pottery of his family business. Studied under Kiyomizu Rokubei the 6th. Awarded the Nara Prefectural Exhibition, Asahi Ceramic Art Exhibition, Japan Modern Craft Exhibition, and selected by Nitten. Became a member of Nitten in 1973. Awarded a special mention at the Nitten in 1974 and 1976. Became a judge, councilor, and managing director of the Nichigen Kouten. Juror and member of Nitten. (more…)

Oshio Shouzan 3rd 三代 大塩昭山

1935-1994maleakahada potteryHe makes Akahada-yaki tea ceremony utensils and flower vases. His works are mainly of Akahada-yaki clay, Hagi-glaze and Nara-e paintings. Awarded a prize at the Traditional Crafts Kinki Branch Exhibition and others. Solo exhibitions at Mitsukoshi Nihombashi, Osaka, Hiroshima Mitsukoshi, and Fukuoka Izutsuya. (more…)

Oshio Gyokusen 大塩玉泉

1925-?akahada potteryVeteran Akahada-yaki craftsman. Makes tea ceremony utensils and flower arrangements in the Gyokusen-gama kiln. Currently run by Oshio Junko, a female potter. (more…)

Osako Mikio 大迫みきお

1940-1995maletokoname potteryBorn in Usa, Oita Prefecture. He entered the Tokoname City Ceramic Research Institute in 1968. Established Hinohara-gama (named after Tanigawa Tetsuzo) in 1982. He was awarded the Honorary Grand Prize at the Barolis International Ceramics Exhibition, the Grand Prize at the Japan Ceramic Art Exhibition, and others. Selected for the Chunichi International Ceramic Art Exhibition, the Japan Traditional Crafts Exhibition, and others. He has held solo exhibitions at Oita Tokiwa, Osaka Hanshin, Tokyo Seibu, and others. He is a regular member of the Japan Kogei association. (more…)

Osaki Nobuhiko 大崎宣彦

1914-?maleHe has been a potter for twenty-five years. He has traveled to Korea, Southeast Asia, and Western Europe eight times, fascinated by old pottery from all over the world. In recent years, he has become passionate about yakishime and kohiki. (more…)

Okoda Kyutaro 大古田久太郎

1943-malebizen potteryBuilt an anagama kiln in 1980. His specialty is unglazed pottery that changes color in the kiln. Awarded the Sanyo Newspaper Award, the First Grand Prix at the Nikkan Kanko Newspaper Nikkanko Cultural Exhibition, the Japan Artisans Association, Genga Exhibition, and other prizes. Member of the Nippon Kogei-kai, the Bi-gei-kai, the Genga-kai, and the Japan Artisans Association. (more…)

Okuma Toshiaki 大熊敏明

1955-malemashiko potteryGraduated from the Tochigi Prefectural Mashiko Ceramic Art Training Institute in 1975. Later, he studied under Omiyaji Michiko. Awarded a prize at the Traditional Craft Exhibition and other exhibitions. Mainly produces tableware and pots with a focus on line patterns and yakishime. (more…)

Okochi Yasuhiro 大河内泰弘

1952-maleGraduated from the Graduate School of Tokyo University of the Arts. Studied under Fujimoto Yoshimichi and Tamura Koichi. Makes vases and tableware. (more…)

Ogami Noboru 大上昇

1929-2002maletamba potteryBorn and raised in Tamba. Graduated from Kwansei Gakuin University. Selected for the Nitten and purchased by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Later, he was selected for the Japan Traditional Craft Exhibition and won the Nikkei Honorable Mention at the Kinki Branch Exhibition. Judged at the Hyogo Prefectural Exhibition. Solo exhibitions at Osaka Matsuzakaya, Takashimaya Department Store, and Sanyo Broadcasting Co. Mainly red dobe, white and gray glaze. (more…)

Ogami Toru 大上亨

1914-?maleMade ceramics in the traditional climbing kiln of Tamba ware. He was certified as a traditional craftsman in 1984. Awarded prizes at the Japan Folk Crafts Exhibition and the Tamba Ceramic Art Exhibition, among others. One-man show at Ginza Matsuya, Osaka Hotel Plaza, and others. Awarded the Prefectural Technical Achievement Award in 1960. (more…)