Japanese potters – O

Ogawa Machiko 小川待子

1946-femaleBorn in Sapporo, Hokkaido 1969 Graduated from Tokyo National University of Fine Arts and Music, majoring in ceramics. After studying at the School of Arts and Crafts in Paris, studied ceramics in various places in West Africa 1992 Awarded the Takashimaya Cultural Foundation Emerging Artist Encouragement Prize 2001 Awarded the Ceramic Society of Japan Prize 2008 The 58th Art Encouragement Prize of the Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology 2019 Awarded the Prize of the Ceramic Society of Japan, Japan (more…)

Okada Yasushi 岡田泰

1976-malehagi potteryBorn in Hagi City, Yamaguchi prefecture. He graduated from the Sculpture Department of Tokyo Zokei University in 2002, completed the Molding Course at the Kyoto Prefectural Technical College of Ceramics, and the Ceramics Course at the Kyoto Municipal Industrial Research Institute, and began studying under his father Okada Yu in 2005. He makes pottery at the Seiunzan-Okada Kiln, which opened in 1782.2009 Yamaguchi Prefecture Art Exhibition, Excellence Prize (1 time since then) Japan Traditional Craft Exhibition, Honorable Mention (5 times since then)2010 Yamaguchi Traditional Craft Exhibition, Asahi Newspaper Award2012 Kyushu Yamaguchi Ceramic Exhibition, Kumamoto Broadcasting Award, Seibu Traditional Craft (more…)

Oomae Satoru 大前悟

1972-maleBorn in Osaka1991 Began making ceramics in Kobe1994 Began collecting clay and firing in high-fired unglazed pottery in Nanban style.1999 First solo exhibition in Osaka2001 Moved to Shigaraki, Japan, and started to make pottery of Iga and Shigaraki Began solo exhibitions throughout Japan2003 Built a fully underground cellar kiln2005 Interested in glazed pottery and started firing white porcelain and Karatsu.2007 Fascinated by the pottery of the Yi Dynasty in underground cellar kiln firing.2010 Moved to Awaji City, Hyogo Prefecture. Built a semi-underground anagama kiln, Raku kiln. Started firing Kuroraku.2014 Built a wood-fired kiln for red tea bowl.2016 Started to fire (more…)

Otsuka Mokichi 大塚茂吉

1956-maleBorn in Tokyo, Japan1979 Graduated with a degree in Japanese Painting, Faculty of Fine Arts, Tokyo University of the Arts1981 M.F.A. in Japanese Painting, Tokyo National University of Fine Arts and Music1996 Completed G. Ballardini National School of Ceramics1997 Solo exhibition at La Rogetta Trentanove, Italy Exhibition “Possibility of Pot” at Palazzo Cheesi, Italy1998 The 50th International Biennial of Ceramics, Faenza, Italy 4th Cairo International Ceramic Art Biennial, Cairo, Egypt 38th Castellamonte Ceramic Art Exhibition, Palazzo Comunale, Italy1999 Solo Exhibition, Studio Cavaelli, Italy “Terracotta from Italy – Aldo Lontini and Otsuka Mokichi”, Sogetsu Museum of Art, Tokyo, Japan2002 Solo exhibition (more…)

Oishi Sayaka 大石早矢香

1980-femaleBorn in Kyoto, Japan2004 Graduated from Kyoto City University of Arts, Faculty of Fine Arts, majoring in ceramics　　　 Kyoto City University of Arts 2003 Production Exhibition, Alumni Prize, Kyoto Municipal Museum of Art　　　 Excellent Prize, Tateyoshi Craft Competition New Buds of Kyoto Ceramics2007 Kyoto Prefectural Selected Exhibition of New Artists in Arts and Crafts2013 Kobe Biennial Contemporary Ceramics Competition, Hyogo Ceramic Art Museum, Japan2014 Japan-Korea Ceramics Exchange Exhibition, Kyoto, Korea　　　 Contemporary Tea Ceremony Award, Shibuya Hikarie, Tokyo　　　 43rd Chozo Prize, Tokoname Ceramic Art Exhibition, Japan2015 Meyer x Shigaraki Grand Prize, Silver Prize (USA)　　　 Kyoto Exhibition Director’s Encouragement Prize, Kyoto Municipal (more…)

Oi Itsugo 大井逸吾

1928-malebizen potteryBorn in Bizen City, the eldest son of a farmer.Served in the military and went to Manchuria. In 1946, he was demobilized and became an employee of a local company.Since he was working as a potter using a potter’s wheel, he spent his spare time learning pottery techniques.In 1965, he built a Kaku-gama (a long rectangular kiln built in the Meiji era. It was developed in many places based on the coal kilns built by Wagner) in his garden.In 1976, upon retirement from the company, he became an independent artist.He has never held a public exhibition or solo show. (more…)

Oka Sakura 岡左久良

1938-malemashiko potteryBorn in Kawasaki City, Kanagawa Prefecture. His grandfather was Kawabata Ryushi (1885-1966), a Japanese painter and haiku poet. Studied under Hamada Shoji for 11 years. In 1989, he built a kiln at his home in Eifuku-cho, Suginami, Tokyo, and began his creative activities. He held his first solo exhibition at Daimaru in Kyoto and his second at Takashimaya in Tokyo. (more…)

Otagaki Rengetsu 太田垣蓮月

1791-1875femaleawata potteryShe was a Buddhist nun who is widely regarded as one of the greatest Japanese poets of the 19th century. She was adopted at a young age by the Otagaki family. It is said that she didn’t live a happy life because she lost her adoptive father and five brothers from illness. She married, but her husband died soon after. She remarried but lost this husband too from illness after only four years, as well as her young son and three young daughters. She joined the temple Chion-in and became a nun, taking Rengetsu (“Lotus Moon”) as her Buddhist (more…)

Okuda Eisen 奥田頴川

1753-1811malekyo potteryMaruya Moemon was born to a family that had run a pawn shop in Kyoto for generations. He ran the family business until he was 35, when he left it to his son in order to pursue his passion for pottery. He built a kiln on the grounds of Kennin-ji temple, and began making unique ceramics. From 1781-1789 he succeeded in creating the first pieces of Kyo ware.He along with his understudy, Aoki Mokubei, and second generation of understudies, Takahashi Dohachi and Ogata Shuhei, are considered the fathers of Kyo ware ceramics. His most famous products were Gosuakae, but (more…)

Ohi Toshiro (Ohi Chozaemon 10th) 大樋年朗 (十代 大樋長左衛門)

1927-maleohi potteryAs the 10th generation Ohi Chozaemon, he inherited the Ohi ware family business, which was a traditional method of producing tea pottery from the feudal government period. On the side, he presented and displayed works that had adopted a modern feel in exhibitions, mainly the Japan Fine Arts Exhibition. He continued to be chosen for prizes and receive awards, becoming active as a central artisan in the Japan Fine Arts Exhibition.He uses the name, “10th Generation Ohi Chozaemon” for his traditional Ohi ware works. However, he uses the name he had before his succession as it is, “Ohi Toshiro,” (more…)

Ohi Chozaemon 9th 九代 大樋長左衛門

1901-1986maleohi potteryAfter graduating from Ishikawa Technical School, he devoted himself to the family business, and he was chosen for a prize for the first time in the Ministry of Agriculture and Commerce Kogei Exhibition in 1920. In 1925, he inherited the family estate and succeeded the name as the ninth generation Ohi Chozaemon. He earnestly studied traditional pottery techniques, and received high praise at his private exhibition, “Twelve Months Tea Bowl Exhibition” in 1936. In 1940, he was bestowed the Chozaemon sign from Konoe Fumimaro, and he was acknowledged as a Preserver of Kogei Techniques in 1942. From 1958, he (more…)

Ohi Soshun (Ohi Chozaemon 8th) 大樋宗春 (八代 大樋長左衛門)

1851-1927maleOverlapping with the new Meiji period, in the time when not only Ohi ware but tea pottery culture was in decline throughout the country, both the eldest and second eldest sons of the seventh generation Michitada (Chozaemon) did not pursue the family business and left the house, which caused Michitada’s cousin, Nara Rikichi, to enter the Ohi family and succeed the family name and estate.After succeeding the name, he produced works thoroughly adhering to traditional pottery techniques while also adding his own originality. He overcame the tumultuous Meiji period and carried on to the prosperity of Ohi ware.Also, he received (more…)

Ohi Chozaemon 1st 初代 大樋長左衛門

1631-1712maleohi potterySaid to have originally descended from the Haji family, who lived in Haji, Kawachi Province, he left for Kyoto at around 1656 and learned the method of producing Raku ware from Ichinyu of the Raku family. It is said that he took up residence near Nijo Kawaramachi, and for that reason it is conjectured that he had some sort of connection to the Oshikoji ware that the nearby Raku branch kiln fired at the time.In 1666, he served the Maeda family of the Kaga Domain, on the recommendation of Senso Soshitsu, who worked as a tea master for the (more…)

Ogawa Choraku 1st 初代 小川長楽

1874-1939maleraku potteryPotter of Kiyomizu ware. Studied under Keinyu and Konyu of the Raku family.From South Kuwa in Tanba Province (modern-day Kameoka in Kyoto Prefecture).In 1885, he moved to Kyoto and received pottery instruction from Raku Konyu. In 1903, he started a branch family at Konyu’s behest and began making pottery in earnest at a kiln in Gojo-zaka. At this time he was granted the name “Choraku” by Master Mokurai, the head priest of Kennin Temple, as well as the name “Choyuken” by Ennosai of the 13th generation of the Urasenke.In 1910, he moved his kiln to Tenno Town in Okazaki, (more…)

Ogata Kenzan 尾形乾山

1663-1743malekyo potteryBorn the third son of Ogata Soken of Kariganeya, a kimono fabrics wholesaler in Kyoto, with Ogata Korin as one of his older brothers.He studied under Nonomura Ninsei, learning to create pottery. When he was around 37 years of age, he opened a kiln in Kiyotaki, right near the Ninsei Kiln, and as it was located in northwest Kyoto (which in Japanese, is referred to as the cardinal direction of “Inui”, a word that can be pronounced as “Ken”), he inscribed the signature of “Kenzan” into his products since then.His style was influenced by Ninsei, his master, and Korin, (more…)

Ozeki Sakujuro 2nd 二代 尾関作十郎

?–1896maleinuyama potteryHe is the 2nd generation to operate the Inuyama ware kiln that was established during the late Edo period, and is the son of the founder. The founder worked as the tiler for the Owari Clan but moved to Inuyama in 1866 and started making Inuyama ware while also assisting Kato Seizo and others at the Maruyama Kiln. However, due to the Meiji Restoration, he ran out of business and started the Ozeki Kiln afterwards.Sakujuro the 2nd presented his wares at the 1st, 3rd, and 4th National Industrial Exhibition and has been awarded Certificates of Merit. (more…)

Okamura Shozan 奥村松山

1842–1905malekoto porcelainAs an apprentice at the Hikone domain’s Koto ware workshop, he learned pottery from Kangin Denshichi, and became independent in 1876.He started making wares at Awataguchi, Kyoto. At first, he used colored glaze to create replicas of ancient Imari and Nonomura Ninsei’s wares, but after Western illustrations were incorporated into Kurita ware, he started making Kyo-Satsuma ware together with the likes of Senkozan.After winning multiple awards at the National Industrial Exhibition, his wares also earned favor in Europe. (more…)

Okamoto Kazuo 岡本和郎

1930–2000malekyo potteryA ceramicist in Kiyomizu, Kyoto, he inherited his father, Okamoto Tameji’s workshop and still makes wares to this day. (more…)

Ono Shinya 尾野晋也

1940–2018malesodeshi potteryHe is the 4th generation to inherit the legacy of Matsue ware (Sodeshi ware) originally founded by Ono Tomoichi. His father, Ono Toshiro, who was the 3rd generation joined the folk art movement after being influenced by Yanagi Muneyoshi, Bernard Howell Leach, and Hamada Shoji, changing their style to focus on folk crafts and becoming a proponent of “Aesthetics in Daily Use Items” which combined utility with beauty. (more…)