Japanese potters – A

Aragaki Isao 新垣勲

1944-2018maletsuboya pottery7th Generation Ryukyu Pottery, Tsuboya Ware, Potter.In his grandfather Arakai Eitoku’s time, Yanagi Muneyoshi and Hamada Shoji became friends when visiting Okinawa, and from then on began producing works that crossed folk art style design with Ryukyu ware.He received the Oki Exhibition Honorable Mention in 1964 and from 1966 through 1969, and the Oki Exhibition Award in 1970 and 1971, and he was nominated as a member of the Okinawa Exhibition Association in 1977. He won the Rookie of the Year Award from the Exhibition Ceramics Club of the National Artists’ Association in 1973, received the Minister of International (more…)

Akazawa Roseki 4th 四代 赤沢露石

1941-2020maleGrandson of Akazawa Roseki II. Exhibited at the Japan Traditional Crafts Exhibition since 1969, held his first solo exhibition at Kyoto Daimaru in 1981, and from then on has held a number of solo exhibitions at places such as Tokyo Mitsukoshi Main Store, Nagoya Mitsukoshi, Osaka Mitsukoshi, etc. (more…)

Akazawa Roseki 2nd 二代 赤沢露石

1897-1976maleFormed from Akazawa Kaho I, a Kyoto potter who inherited the generational name Roseki from Roseki II.Roseki II (Shuzo) was born as Kaho I and worked in the family business. In 1943, he was selected as a Cochin ware technique preservation artist. He left behind many excellent works, mostly tea utensils, and in 1960 participated in the founding of the Kyoto Traditional Ceramics Association, and is also active as a founding colleague.Roseki III (Akazawa Shizuo) was named by Roseki II’s wife. (more…)

Asami Gorosuke 6th 六代 浅見五郎助

1951-malekyo potteryBorn the eldest son of Gorosuke V, he graduated from Kyoto Prefectural Ceramics Vocational Training School in 1974 and after training at the Ceramics Department of Kyoto Municipal Industrial Research Institute, moved to the United States.He studied under his father from 1972. In addition to working as his father’s assistant in the pottery industry, he created his own works which he presented at solo exhibitions, etc. In 1988, he became the sixth generation Asami Gorosuke and continues his work through the present day. (more…)

Asami Gorosuke 5th 五代 浅見五郎助

1923-1987malekyo potteryBorn to Gorosuke IV, he studied under his father and at the Kyoto Ceramics Research Institute after graduating from the Ceramics Department of the Kyoto Institute of Technology.He continued his research on the family’s brush marks, Shonzui, and Kyoto wares and in 1967 was named Gorosuke V. Since then, he continued productions centered around solo exhibitions. (more…)

Asami Gorosuke 4th 四代 浅見五郎助

1895-1967malekyo potteryThe second son of Irie Tatsunosuke, the brother of Gorosuke II’s wife. He was adopted into the Asami family when Gorosuke III died in the war and the family lost their successor.He researched the styles common throughout history and reproduced many works from various kilns, earning him certification as a traditional technique preservationist in 1939. (more…)

Asami Gorosuke 3rd 三代 浅見五郎助

?-1905malekyo potteryBorn to Tanemura Ibei in Fushimi, he later married the daughter of Gorosuke II and joined the Asami family as a son in law, and was then bestowed the name Gorosuke III.He mainly left behind works in the family art of Shonzui and teacups, but as he died in the Russo-Japanese War, his time producing was short and his works are rare. (more…)

Asami Gorosuke 2nd 二代 浅見五郎助

1861-1928malekyo potteryBorn as the eldest son of Gorosuke the 1st, he learned pottery techniques from his father and inherited the family name.He produced teacups and tableware, and developed a relationship with cultural figures of the time, such as Rengetsu Otagaki and Tessai Tomioka, with whom he produced a number of collaboration paintings. (more…)

Asami Gorosuke 浅見五郎助

1829-1895malekyo potteryBorn as the second son of Higuchi Munentaka, the feudal lord of the Settsu Takatsuki Domain, he was later adopted by the Asami family in Kyoto and became a potter under the guidance of Rokubei II.He opened a kiln in Gojozaka, Kyoto in 1852, wherein he produced utensils and tea wares such as porcelain and pottery teacups, confectionery bowls, and drinking vessels.He was particularly adept at duplicating Shonzui works, and naturally began calling himself “Shonzui Gorosuke.” From then on, the name Gorosuke and his style of pottery became a representation of Kyoto wares from generation to generation, even until (more…)

Asano Yo 浅野陽

1923- 1997maleHe began majoring in lacquer arts, but he was influenced by Tomimoto Kenkichi and Fujimoto Yoshimichi at the Tokyo Fine Arts School’s Industrial Arts Technical Training Center and proceeded down the path of pottery.Upon becoming independent, he exhibited a number of times at the Industrial Art Association’s Japan Traditional Crafts Exhibition, which earned him the post of full member of the Industrial Arts Association.Otherwise, he mainly presented his work in solo exhibitions. (more…)

Abe Wato 阿部和唐

1937 –maleBorn into an artistic household with a Western-style painter for a father and a doll artist for a mother, he was interested in clay crafts since childhood. While still in junior high school, he exhibited at the Sankei Newspaper Doll Exhibition (an open-call exhibition) and won a special prize. Demonstrating exceptional talent and artistic sensibilities from early on, he began making pottery under the guidance of Yasuhara Yoshiaki in 1955. He received a special prize at the Asahi Newspaper Contemporary Ceramic Doll Exhibition in 1960. He was selected for and won many awards.After 1974, he exhibited at the Japan (more…)

Ando Shutaro 安藤秀太郎

1876-1937malehosshoji potteryBorn in Tottori. Worked at Hossho-ji Kiln. Studied under Matsuura Kujiro and Hara Choshiro. Worked at a number of kilns including Izumo and Ishishu, and was given the Ochiai Kiln in 1903. He named it the Hossho-ji Hanaya Kiln. Currently, the fourth generation is Ando Masumi. (more…)

Asami Ryuzo 浅見隆三

1904-1987maleBorn as the second son to Asami Gorosuke III, he studied under his grandfather, Gorosuke II, and after being selected to receive his first award at the 10th Imperial Exhibition in 1929, his participation in exhibitions continued. He studied under Kusube Yaichi in 1945, following the war period. In addition, he exhibited at the Japan Fine Arts Exhibition in 1946, received a special honor in 1951, and received the Minister of Education Award in 1964. He won many awards in addition to these.He received an award at the Czech International Ceramics Exhibition in 1962. (more…)

Asai Ichigo 浅井一毫

1836-1916malekutani porcelainBorn the second son of Asai Choemon of the Kaga Daishoji Domain, he studied Japanese painting under Horibun Ishiki and Kojima Harcho, and handled coloring at the Kutani Ware Miyamoto Kiln.In 1866, when the domain presented a set of tea ceremony tools to Mr. Nijo, he was in charge of its production. The feudal lord presented him with the inscription “Soseitei Ikki,” and he became a master of the “akae saibyou” style of painting.In the beginning of the Meiji Era, he adopted Eiriki Wazen’s “kinrade” technique to create “kinrade akae,” giving new direction to Kutani ware.He also traveled to (more…)

Adachi Misumi 安達益三

Showa period-bizen potteryServed as the president of an arts junior college and established an on-campus pottery club.Built a home kiln and began making pottery, mainly high-fired, unglazed ceramics using soil ordered from Bizen. (more…)

Abe Omi 阿部碧海

1841-1910malekutani porcelain A businessman from the Meiji era who exported items overseas with a focus on Kutani ware.He started the “Omi kiln” in 1869 for members of samurai families; appointed Utsumi Kichizo as the factory chief; invited Haruna Shigeharu, Iwanami Gyokuzan, Iiiyama Katei, and other exceptional potters; and began production with roughly 80 artists. At the same time, he sought trade routes for overseas exports, cooperated with Marunaka Magohei to open branches in Kobe and Nagasaki, and won awards while exhibiting at the Paris 1878 Exposition. However, the factory was closed in 1880 due to the business worsening. (more…)

Akioka Motooji 秋岡元王寺

1914-?karatsu potteryStarted out as an oil painter. Exhibited his work at the Shinseisaku Exhibition. After losing the war, he moved to Kurashiki, where he collected and studied old ceramics, and eventually developed his own copying of old ceramics. His works include Yayoi, Sue ware style, Seto-guro and Oribe pottery of the Momoyama period, mottled glaze with a touch of the old kilns of Kitakyushu, carved Karatsu, and painted Karatsu. (more…)

Aoki Mokubei 青木木米

1767-1833malekyo potterykutani porcelainAoki Mokubei was born in the Gion district of Kyoto as Aoki Sahei.From childhood, he was a student of the well known artist and Confucianist Kou Fuyou, who had a strong influence on his upbringing.When he visited Kimura Kenkadou of Osaka, he found among his book collection a book written by the Chinese Shuryuutei called “Guide to Ceramics”, which, it is said, inspired him to decide that ceramic art was his life’s calling.It is said that his mentors in ceramic art were Okuda Eisen, who taught him how to work porcelain, and Houzan Bunzou the 11th, who taught (more…)

Arakawa Toyozo 荒川豊蔵

1894-1985malemino potteryliving national treasureAround 1586, Shino ware suddenly appeared in records of tea ceremonies, being used as the bowl The Shino ware was being used as the tea bowl in tea ceremonies. During the Keicho period, problems with production efficiency and other issues caused a decline and eventually a complete halt in production.Arakawa Toyozo, after experiencing much difficulty, revived the tradition of Shino ware, which became a success. He was eventually named a Living National Treasure and is regarded as one of the finest potters in history.Born on March 21st, 1894. Educated by Miyanaga Tozan, went to Kamakura and aided (more…)

Ando Moriyuki 安藤百利行

1939-maleGraduated from Tajimi Kinuta. Later studied in Kyoto and Tokoname and became independent in 1967. Won prizes at the Asahi Ceramic Art Exhibition, the Chunichi International Ceramic Art Exhibition, the Japan New Craft Exhibition, and others. Fired his own ash-glazed demon skin, ash-glazed kairagi, and Mino fire-keyaki based on the traditions of old Mino ceramics. Served as the head of the Mizunami Pottery Association. (more…)