Japanese potters – A

Asamoto Kakuzan 浅本鶴山

1885-1957male Born in Tsuyama, he became a foster child of Fusakichi Asamoto (née Sugisaki), who had opened a kiln in Hayashida, at the age of two. When he was just 13 years old, around the time he graduated from school, his father Fusakichi, who had moved to a kiln in Ninomiya, Tsuyama City at the time, taught him how to use the potter’s wheel. Thereafter, he went to Awaji to train at Minpei Pottery, and then to Izushi in Hyogo Prefecture.Prefecture, followed by Ibe, Asagiri Pottery in Akashi, and Inami, one after another, all with a potter’s wheel on his (more…)

Asai Keiko 浅井敬子

1947-female1999 Built a kiln in Hachioji City, Tokyo2004 Studied under Murobushi Eiji, a kneading pottery artist in Fuji City, Shizuoka Prefecture2011 Selected for the 41st and 42nd All Ceramic Exhibition2012 Selected, The 20th Tableware Festival Grand Prize Exhibition (21st, 23rd, 24th, 25th, 26th)2013 Selected, The Ceramic Foundation Exhibition2015 Selected, The 55th East Japan Traditional Crafts Exhibition (60th)Selected, 62nd Japan Traditional Crafts Exhibition (64th)2016 Selected, The 9th Gifu Toki City Tea Ceramic Exhibition2019 Selected, 8th Soba Inoro Art Competition, Azumino, JapanSelected, The 6th Ceramic Art Exhibition (7th, 8th, 9th) (more…)

Ogawa Tokusai 小川得斎

1785－1865maleshigaraki potteryA potter of the late Edo period. Produced Shigaraki ware in his hometown of Shigaraki, Omi (Shiga Prefecture) during the Bunka-Bunsei period (1804-30). In 1830, he moved to Ueno in Iga (Mie Prefecture) and made copies of old Iga pottery. (more…)

Abe Shinji 阿部眞士

1959-maleKawachi, Yahatahigashi Ward, Kitakyushu City, Fukuoka Prefecture. The workshop of “Yuko Kiln” is located in the mountains of Kitakyushu City, Fukuoka Prefecture. After graduating from university, Abe Masashi, now the second generation, studied under Takita Koichi in Fukushima and Tochigi, and returned to Kitakyushu at the age of 26 to study under his father, Abe Yuko, who established the kiln. After that, he took over the kiln, and he has been making pottery by switching from ceramics to porcelain, focusing on porcelain after participating in the restoration project of celadon bowls with flower patterns excavated from the Kooro ruins in (more…)

Arakawa Hideki 荒木秀樹

1959-malesatsuma potteryBorn in Nawashirogawa (present-day Miyama), Kagoshima Prefecture1983 Graduated from Nihon University, College of Art, Department of Fine Arts, majoring in sculpture1985 Graduated from Nihon University, College of Art, Department of Fine Arts, Research Course1985 Graduated from the Department of Fine Arts, Nihon University College of Art.1989 Awarded the Nagasaki Prefecture Governor’s Prize at the Nagasaki Ceramics Exhibition.1989 Awarded the NHK Saga Broadcasting Station Prize at the Kyushu-Yamaguchi Ceramics Exhibition.1989 Awarded the Kagoshima Prefectural Governor’s Prize at the Kyushu New Crafts Exhibition.Received the Chairman of the Prefectural Assembly Prize at the Kagoshima Ceramic Art Exhibition (since then, awarded 11 special (more…)

Arai Yukie 荒井ゆきえ

1972-femaleBorn in Nagano, JapanLiving in Otsu, Shiga1995 Graduated from Ceramics Course of Kyoto Seika University1996 Completed School of Ceramics Course of Kyoto Seika University1998 Completed Industrial Research Institute of Kyoto (Ceramics)1999 Selected for the Kinki Exhibition of the Japan Traditional Art Crafts Exhibition (2001-21)2005 Selected for the Japan Traditional Art Crafts Exhibition (2007, 09-15, 17-21)2011 Participated in a Successor-Training Course on White Porcelains as Important Intangible Cultural Heritage (2012)2014 Three-Potter Exhibition at Kyoto Takashimaya Art Gallery (2016, 19) 2017 Received the 28th Shumei Culture Foundation Award 2019 Received the award in the 48th Kinki Exhibition of the Japan Traditional Art (more…)

Amano Katsuyoshi 天野勝義

1971-Born in Mizuho-ku, Nagoya City1992 Completed the Major Course at Seto Ceramic High School, Aichi, Japan1994 Selected, Tokai Traditional Craft Exhibition (since then, selected 12 times)1999 Selected, Asahi Ceramic Art Exhibition (Selected 4 times)　　　 Selected, Japan Traditional Crafts Exhibition (selected 6 times)　　　 Selected, Chozo Prize Biennale (since then, selected twice)2003 Issuikai Ceramic Art Exhibition, Issuikai Prize (5 times)2005 Selected, Kikuchi Biennale2006 Tokai Traditional Craft Exhibition, Encouragement Prize2007 Grand Prize, Aichi Bunren Art ExhibitionCurrently, Regular Member of the Japan Kogei Association (more…)

Azuma Kaori 東香織

1972-female2002 Trained at Yamaji Kazuo Pottery2004 Graduated from Ibaraki Prefectural Ceramics Instructor, Molding I CourseStudied under Baba Koji2006 Ibaraki Ceramic Instructor2011 Selected for the 45th Women’s Ceramic Art Exhibition2012 Selected, 52nd East Japan Traditional Crafts Exhibition2012 Selected, Ibaraki Prefecture Art Festival Art Exhibition2013 Selected, The 22nd Japan Ceramic Art ExhibitionSelected, The 1st Ceramic Art ExhibitionSelected, 60th Japan Traditional Crafts Exhibition (more…)

Azuma Masayuki 東正之

1960-maleBorn in Tajimi City1979 Graduated from Tajimi Technical High School, Department of Design1981 Completed a research course at Gifu Prefectural Ceramics Laboratory1985 Selected for the Tokai Traditional Craft Exhibition (since then 27 times)1986 Selected for the 1st International Ceramics Exhibition MINO (since then, selected once)1987 Selected, Central Japan International Ceramic Art Exhibition (since then, selected once)1988 Selected, Asahi Ceramic Art Exhibition (since then, selected 6 times)1989 Selected for the Japan Traditional Crafts Exhibition (since then, selected 9 times)1992 Joined the Mino Ceramic Art Association.1994 Became a regular member of the Japan Kogei Association.2009 Appointed as a director of the Mino (more…)

Akamo Toshio 赤毛敏男

1959-malebizen potteryBorn in Ukai-cho, Fuchu City, Hiroshima Prefecture1982 Became an apprentice of the late Yamamoto Toushu, a Living National Treasure1989 After 7 years and 5 months of apprenticeship, became independent1993 Selected for the 40th Japan Traditional Crafts Exhibition1995 Selected for the 33rd Asahi Ceramic Art Exhibition1996 Selected for the 13th Tabe Art Museum Grand Prize, “Chanoyu no Zokei Exhibition(Selected for the 1999, 2000, 2004, 2007, 2008, 2010, 2013)1997 Selected for the 5th Ceramic Biennale (and thereafter in 1999)1999 Selected for the 15th Japan Ceramic Art Exhibition2002 Selected, 49th Japan Traditional Crafts Exhibition2004 Selected for the 51st Japan Traditional Crafts Exhibition2007 (more…)

Akashi Takuma 明石拓馬

1977-maleBorn in Osaka2000Graduated from Aichi Prefectural University of Fine Arts and Music, majoring in ceramics2002 Completed the Graduate School of Aichi Prefectural University of Fine Arts and Music, majoring in ceramics.Graduated from Aichi Prefectural University of Fine Arts and Music, Department of Ceramics2002Worked for Yellow-Data Co.2004Built a kiln in Yokohama City, Kanagawa Prefecture Award2000 Tokai Traditional Craft Exhibition, Tokai Traditional Encouragement2001 Selected, Tokai Traditional Craft Exhibition2002 Selected, Japan Traditional Crafts ExhibitionSelected, Japan Traditional Art Crafts ExhibitionSelected, Tokai Traditional Art Craft Exhibition2004 Selected, Kikuchi Biennale2005 Selected, Japan Ceramic Art Exhibition2007 Selected, Japan Ceramic Art Exhibition2008 Selected, Japan Traditional Crafts Exhibition2009 Selected, (more…)

Aoki Masakatsu 青木昌勝

1978-maleBorn in Imari City, Saga Prefecture2002Joined the kiln in OokawachiyamaStudied under Nakamura Seiroku, an important intangible cultural asset of Saga Prefecture at the Ookawachiyama Traditional Industry Hall (training for successors) and Murashima Setsuzan for 5 years.2009Selected for the Western Traditional Crafts Exhibition2010 Selected, Seibu Traditional Crafts ExhibitionSelected, Western Traditional Crafts Exhibition2013Selected, Seibu Traditional Craft Exhibition2014Selected, The Ceramic Art ExhibitionSelected, Kyushu-Yamaguchi Ceramic ExhibitionSelected, Seibu Traditional Craft Exhibition2015Nikkan Kogyo Newspaper Award, 1st Section, Kyushu-Yamaguchi Ceramic ExhibitionSaga Prefecture Governor’s Prize, 2nd Section, Kyushu-Yamaguchi Ceramic ExhibitionCertified as a 1st class ceramics manufacturing technician (hand pottery, National Qualification)2016Selected, Arita International Ceramics Exhibition (former Kyushu-Yamaguchi Ceramics (more…)

Ando Riki 安東利喜

1951-malebizen pottery1972 Graduated from Bizen Ceramic Art Center and trained at Inbe Ceramics1974 Built his own kiln in the previous yearSelected, Japan Traditional Crafts ExhibitionSelected, Okayama Prefectural Art ExhibitionSelected, Japan Kogei Association Chugoku Branch ExhibitionSelected, 1994 Yakishime Pottery CompetitionSelected, Japan Ceramic Art ExhibitionSelected, Exhibition of Contemporary Art Crafts, ChugokuSelected, 16th, 23rd, 24th, 25th Tabe Museum of Art “Forms of Tea Ceremony” ExhibitionAwarded the Chairman’s Prize, BIGEIKAI Exhibition.Bizen Mayor’s Prize, BIGEIKAI ExhibitionSelected, 51st Japan Traditional Crafts Chugoku Branch Exhibition (more…)

Asami Yoshizo 1st-4th 初代-四代 浅見与し三

malekyo pottery Asami Yoshuzo the 1st opened a kiln on Gojozaka in 1912, after splitting off from his father Yonosuke (the second son of Asami Gorosuke II). He studied under Kiyomizu Rokubey V for many years. The fourth generation was born in 1961 and began making pottery under his father (the second generation) and uncle (the third generation), and succeeded to the name of the fourth generation in 1992.In 1995, Master Maeda Masamichi of Zuihouin, the pagoda of Daitokuji Temple, gave him the kiln name of Kippo-gama Kiln. (more…)

Arakawa Satoshi 荒川智

1971-maleshigaraki potteryBorn in Shinjo City, Yamagata Prefecture1992Joined Sanzai Kiln Co.1997Studied under Ootani Shiro of Shigaraki after leaving Sanzai Co.2000Selected for the Japan Traditional Crafts Kinki Exhibition2001Begins independent creative activitiesSelected for the Japan Traditional Crafts Kinki Exhibition2005Solo exhibition at Shigaraki Pottery Garden2007Selected, Japan Traditional Crafts ExhibitionSolo exhibition at Shibuya Gallery Nin2008Became an associate member of the Japan Kogei AssociationTwo-person exhibition at SEIBU Otsu2009Exhibited at “CRIA Exhibition” in Kyoto, JapanSolo exhibition at Shigaraki Pottery Garden2010The 21st Shumei Culture Foundation Award2012Selected, Japan Traditional Crafts Exhibition2003Selected, Japan Traditional Crafts ExhibitionSolo exhibition at Seibu OtsuJune, 1951Solo exhibition at Tokyu Shibuya Main Store2007Selected for the Japan (more…)

Asakura Hiroaki 浅蔵宏昭

1967-malekutani porcelainBorn in Isesaki City, Gunma Prefecture1990 Graduated from Kanazawa College of Art, Department of Sculpture1992 Awarded a prize at the Hokuriku Chunichi Art Exhibition1993 Graduated from Kanazawa College of Art, Graduate School of Painting and Sculpture, Sculpture Course1995 Joined Asakura Isokichi’s groupSelected, Japan Contemporary Crafts Art Exhibition, 2002Selected, Ishikawa Contemporary Art ExhibitionSelected, Nitten, 2003Certified as a traditional Kutani-yaki craftsman in 2007 Currently, at Gojukichi Shinko-Toyo kilny, he produces porcelain consistently from molding to firing and overglaze painting. He also participates in three-person and group exhibitions with Isokichi and Kazuka. (more…)

Anzai Kenta 安齊賢太

1980-maleBorn in Fukushima Prefecture.After graduating from university, studied at Kyoto College of Traditional Crafts.2006 Graduated from the same schoolStudied in Izu, England2010 Independent (more…)

Asai Yusuke 浅井庸佑

1981-maleBorn in Kyoto.Studied under Shibagaki Rokuzo and built a kiln in Otsu City, Shiga Prefecture.He tries to use materials that can be found around him as much as possible. (more…)

Amano Tomoya 天野智也

1968-malebizen potteryBorn in Yokkaichi City, Mie Prefecture, studied under Nagasue Ryuhei after completing the ceramics course at Seto Ceramic High School in 1989. 1994- Joined Kimura Tojoen and worked there for 10 years. 2005- Built his own half-underground anagama in Sako, Akaban City, Okayama Prefecture, and started his own kiln.His first solo exhibition was held in 2007. Since then, he has actively held solo exhibitions in Okayama and Tokyo every year. (more…)