Japanese potters – A

Awa Natsuki 阿波夏紀

1988-femaleBorn in Okayama Prefecture 2011 Graduated from the Faculty of Design, Okayama Prefectural University 2013 M.F.A. in Ceramic Design, Graduate School of Design, Okayama Prefectural University Currently working in Okayama City, Okayama Prefecture <Awards> 2011 The 51st Japan Craft Exhibition, Honorable Mention 2012 Selected, 46th Women’s Ceramic Art Exhibition, Japan 2014 Selected, The 10th International Ceramics Exhibition Mino, Japan 2016 Grand Prize, The 5th Soba Inoguchi Art Competition, Japan 2016 Selected, Itami International Craft Exhibition, Japan 2017 Selected, Kanazawa World Craft Competition, Kanazawa, Japan The 10th Contemporary Tea Ceremony, Honorable Mention Gold Prize, The 9th Snow Design Award (more…)

Akiyama Yo 秋山陽

1953-maleBorn in Yamaguchi, Japan1976 Entered Kyoto City University of Arts1978 Completed Postgraduate course in ceramics, Kyoto City University of Arts 2007 Contribution Award, The 25th Kyoto Prefecture Cultural Award Enku Award, The 4th Enku Grand Award Exhibition2008 The 21st Kyoto Fine Arts Cultural Award2010 Grand Prix, The 17th Mokichi Okada Award Excellence Prize, Contemporary Ceramics for the Tea Ceremony, Musée Tomo (2006)2011 The 52nd Mainichi Art Award, Mainichi Newspaper2014 Culture and Scholarship Award, Kyoto Newspaper2016 The First prize, Japan Ceramic Society (more…)

Aoki Ryota 青木良太

1978-maleBorn in Toyama Prefecture in 1978. Works from a studio in Toki City, Gifu Prefecture. Through researching about 15,000 different glazes per year, he continues to create beautiful works that no one has ever seen before, using materials that are not usually handled in ceramics, such as gold, silver, and platinum. 2002 Won the Grand Prize and the Governor of Tokyo Award at the Tableware Festival, and the Encouragement Prize at the Asahi Modern Craft Exhibition. 2003 Received the Silver Prize at the Takaoka Craft Exhibition. 2004 Won the Silver Prize at the Sidney Myer Fund International Ceramics Award (Australia). (more…)

Asakura Kazuka 浅蔵一華

1971-femalekutani porcelainBorn in Komatsu City, Ishikawa Prefecture as daughter of Asakura Isokichi III. Graduated from Kanazawa College of Art, majoring in industrial design. At the Isokichi Fukaka Kiln, she produces porcelain consistently from molding to firing and overglaze painting. While inheriting the traditional deep yellow glaze technique of her predecessors, she paints new and gorgeous patterns on the vessels. 1996 Completed the Graduate School of Industrial Design, Kanazawa College of Art. After that, he started his creative activities under Asakura Isokichi II and III. Worked mainly in solo exhibitions and group exhibitions. 2015 She was certified as a traditional artisan (more…)

Aoki Eigoro 青木栄五郎

1845-1906malekutani porcelainKutani potter, also known as Eitei and Toko, the same pen name as his grandfather and father. After learning the style of his father, Aoya Gen’emon, he was invited by Maeda Nariyasu, the lord of Kaga-Kanazawa, and moved from Komatsu to Kanazawa to work as a potter. (more…)

Aoki Taeko 青木妙子

1950-femalearita porcelainBorn as the eldest daughter of Kawazoe Tameo, the potter of Kosen Kiln.1969 Graduated from Imari High School, Saga Prefecture, and joined Kosen Kiln.1975 She got married and became a mother of a son and a daughter.1991 Certified as a traditional craftsman (underglaze enameling) of Imari and Arita ware.1998 Passed the first class technician of underglaze painting.1999 Passed the vocational training instructor exam.2000 Vice-president of the Women’s Division of the National Association of Traditional Craftsmen to 2007.2002 Passed First Class Craftsman for Underglaze Painting.2007 Certified as a traditional craftsman of Imari and Arita ware (overglaze enameling).2010 Lecturer of painting (more…)

Aoya Gen’emon 粟生屋源右衛門

1797-1863malekutani porcelainSon of Aoya Genbei, a potter in Komatsu, Kaga Province (Komatsu City, Ishikawa Prefecture). Using Toko, the same pen name as his father. At the Wakasugi Kiln, Aoya Gen’emon worked hard to acquire pottery-making skills under Honda Teikichi, and became a master potter at a young age, but he continued to study the style of Kutani ware, later called “Blue Kutani,” under the instruction of Teikichi. Even after Sadakichi’s death, he continued to strive for the revival of Old Kutani, refining the ceramic techniques of Raku ware that he inherited from his father, the techniques of mixing colored glazes (more…)

Awa Kosho 安房幸祥

1945-maleStudied under Shigara and Tamba Tachikui in 1973, becoming independent in Osaka in 1977. He held a solo exhibition in 1984 and moved to Kameoka City, Kyoto Prefecture the following year. Since 1987, he has been focusing on solo exhibitions. He has also been selected as a prize winner for the Japanese Traditional Crafts Association. (more…)

Arai Kinya 新井謹也

1884-1966maleMoved to Kyoto in 1903, where he first learned under Makino Katsuji, then studied under Asai Chu at the Western Painting Institute. However, the next year he began work for a company as a military painter for the Russo-Japanese War and returned 3 years later in 1907. In 1910, he participated in the founding of the “Black Cat Association” with Kuroda Jutaro and others. After its disbandment, he formed a “Colleagues Association” with 5 like-minded Western-style painters of the Taisho Era, and while presenting his works took a job at the Mitsukoshi kimono fabrics store, from which he retired after (more…)

Adachi Tosen 安達陶仙

1872-1944malekutani porcelainBorn into the Sojutsu Shinanban family, he graduated from Ishikawa Prefectural Technical School in 1890 and studied under Matsumoto Sahei. He learned ceramic painting and pigment manufacturing from Tomoda Yasukiyo and Yoshimura Matao.He was self-employed in 1897, and afterwards worked in the Hayashiya Kumi Ceramics Workshop and the Ishikawa Design Office. From 1904 to 1935 he was a lecturer in the ceramics department of Ishikawa Prefectural Technical School (currently named Ishikawa Prefectural Technical High School). At the same time, he devoted himself to the development and research of glazes such as celadon glaze and crystal glaze. Thanks to the (more…)

Akai Tonen 3rd 三代 赤井陶然

1818-1889maletokoname potteryExhibited Nanban wares and vases at the 1st National Expo in 1877, and he exhibited Nanban reproductions and vases at the 2nd National Expo in 1881. He was adept at reproducing Nanban wares such as tea sets, sake sets, and vases.Akai Tonen I lived 1762-1829, II lived 1796-1858, IV lived 1843-1914. (more…)

Asai Shusai 浅井周斎

1720-1800malenanzan potteryAfter retiring from a position as a wealthy merchant by the name of Kawasakiya Genbe, he established a kiln on Yamashiro Yawatashi Hatogamine Nanzan in 1758 and opened Nanzan Ware. (more…)

Asakura Isokichi 3rd 三代 浅蔵五十吉

1941-malekutani porcelainBorn the eldest son of Asakura Isokichi II, he studied under Kitade Tojiro in 1962 after finishing his time at the National Nagoya Industrial Technology Research Institute’s Department of Ceramics.After winning his first prize at the Ishikawa Prefecture Contemporary Art Exhibition in 1963, he has also been selected for prizes at the Japan Fine Arts Exhibition, the Japan Contemporary Art Exhibition, etc. He received the highest award at the Ishikawa Contemporary Art Exhibition in 1972, the Japan Fine Arts Exhibition Special Award in 1972 (selected again in 1986), and the Membership Award at the Japan Contemporary Art Exhibition in (more…)

Asami Takeshi 浅見武

1962-malekyo potteryGrandson of Asami Ryuzo, he started pottery work under the guidance of his grandfather and his father, Asami Kaoru.Upon graduation from the Kyoto Municipal Research Institute and the Kyoto Prefectural Ceramics Vocational Training School, he began his own creative work and gained awards at the Japan Fine Arts Exhibition, the Japan Contemporary Craft Art Exhibition, the Kyoto Exhibition, etc. He worked as a lecturer at the Kyoto Municipal Industrial Research Institute, endeavoring to teach younger generations. (more…)

Asami Kaoru 浅見薫

1932-malekyo potteryBorn the eldest son to Gojozaka, Kyoto potter Asami Ryuzo, he began producing works under his father’s guidance after graduating from university. In addition, he served at the Kyoto Municipal Industrial Research Institute, working on research and teaching of ceramic glazes, and later served as the Industrial Arts Manager and Workshop Manager.He received special prizes at the 10th Japan Fine Arts Exhibition in 1978, and the 15th Japan Fine Arts Exhibition in 1983. He also served as a judge for either exhibition. (more…)

Akamaru Setsuzan 赤丸雪山

Late Edo Period-?kutani porcelainA Kaga Province potter from the end of the Edo period through the Meiji period, established a workshop with Takayama Suzan in 1865, and gathered local Kutani ware potters to produce Akae and Kinran tea wares.In 1872, opened their own workshop and hired more than 40 potters and painters to produce and sell works under the name Setsuzan-do. (more…)

Ajiki Hiro 安食ひろ

1948-maleDropped out of Musashino Art University. Since 1971, he has traveled to more than 25 countries, including India, Europe, and Africa to interact with the cultures of each region. He built an ascending kiln upon his return to Japan and the beginning of his independence.Beginning with his receipt of the Tanabe Museum of Art Ceremony Model Exhibition Grand Prize in 1987, he also received the Exhibition Honorable Mention at this same exhibition, an Excellence Award, the Tanko Biennial Special Award, Honorable Mentions, etc. He held a solo exhibition and tea ceremony in India in 2005, and in the same year (more…)

Kano Tanrei 狩野探令

1857-1931malekutani porcelainReai name is Araki Jotaro. Born to a Tozawa domain leader in Dewa Province.He went to Edo to study under the Kajibashi Kano family’s student Kakikawa Ensai, and he also studied the Kano school paintings under the family’s teenage Kano Tanbi. Afterwards, he was active in exhibitions like the Japan Art Association Exhibition.During the time that the 1907 Ministry of Education Bunten Exhibition was held, he participated in the Society of Orthodox Schools, becoming their executive secretary. He also took part in the formation of the Kano Association with Kano Tadanobu, Okakura Shusui, and Oka Fuho.In addition to his (more…)

Aragaki Tsutomu 新垣勉

1950-2012maletsuboya potterySon of leading Okinawan folk art potter Aragaki Eizaburo, he is engaged in pottery making alongside his brother, Aragaki Isao.Since receiving the Okinawa Prefectural Exhibition Honorable Mention in 1971, he remained active mainly in Okinawa Prefectural Exhibitions and solo exhibitions, receiving the 1972 Oki Exhibition Award, the 1973 Honorable Mention, and the 1974 Oki Exhibition Award, receiving awards for four consecutive years. (more…)

Aragaki Eizaburo 新垣栄三郎

1921-1984maletsuboya potteryBorn to Aragaki Eitoku V of the pottery family who creates Ryukyu ware in Tsuboya, Naha, Okinawa, he was familiar with pottery from childhood and received guidance from Hamada Shoji and Kawai Kanjiro, who had come to observe the folk art movement in 1939.After graduating from Taichung Normal School in Taiwan in 1941, he worked in an elementary school in Shimane Prefecture. After the war, he worked in his hometown’s Tsuboya Elementary School from 1947 to 1954.Following this, he began to devote himself to pottery, and received high praise at a number of exhibitions, including the National Artists’ Association (more…)