Japanese potters – I

Ito Motohiko 伊藤東彦

1939-maleStudied undergraduate and postgraduate ceramics at Tokyo University of the Arts. Awarded the Traditional Craft Exhibition Tokyo Teachers’ Council Award, the Asahi Newspaper Award, and an Honorable Mention at the Musashino Exhibition, among other awards. Has held personal exhibitions at locations including Shinjuku Isetan, Mune Kogei in Ginza, and Kandori in Kioicho. Japan Kogei Association member. (more…)

Ito Masato 伊藤麻沙人

1950-maleBorn in Itabashi, Tokyo. Went to Takehaya Senior High School, and studied undergraduate and postgraduate ceramics at Tokyo University of the Arts. Studied under Fujimoto Yoshimichi, Tamura Koichi, and Asano Akira. Founded a kiln in the hills of Kamakurayama, on the grounds of Raitei. Specializes in refined Japanese tableware made with iron glaze, tessai, copper glaze, and blue and white. Japan Kogei Association member. (more…)

Ito Fuyu 伊藤富有

1937-malebanko potterySon of Ito Jitsuzan, master of the potter’s wheel and Banko ware. Specializes in purple clay teapots. (more…)

Ito Fumio 伊藤文夫

1955-maleStudied under Aoki Shokichi and Nakazato Takashi. Returned to his home town in 1979, and began independent work the following year. (more…)

Ito Biketsu 伊藤美月

1944-malebanko potteryStudied under Tsuji Mitsusuke. Designated as a Traditional Craftsman, passed the Level 1 Proficiency Test, and was awarded the Traditional Craft Industry Award. Selected for and won awards at the Tokai Traditional Crafts Exhibition, Chunichi International Exhibition of Ceramic Art, Japan Contemporary Crafts Exhibition, and Nitten. (more…)

Ito Naoko 伊藤尚子

1957-femaleStudied at California Art & Craft University, before graduating at Osaka University of Arts. Afterwards, worked at the university’s laboratory. Selected for and won awards at the Chunichi International Exhibition of Ceramic Art and Asahi Ceramic Art Exhibition. Has held personal exhibitions at locations including Fuji Gallery Shiro and Maronie. Uses ceramics to represent emotions and natural phenomena. (more…)

Ito Sekisui 5th 五代 伊藤赤水

1941-malemumyoi potteryliving national treasureBorn in Sado County, Niigata Prefecture. He was born as the eldest son of the fourth generation of Sekisui, whose real name is Yoichi. After graduating from Kyoto Institute of Technology in 1966, he studied Mumyoi ware under his grandfather, the third generation, and was selected for the Japan Traditional Crafts Exhibition in 1972. In 1976, he succeeded to the name of Sekisui V. He continued to research and refine his techniques. In 1985, he was awarded the Prince Chichibu Cup for the best work at the Japan Ceramic Art Exhibition. In 1993, to celebrate the wedding (more…)

Ito Tetsuji 伊藤哲滋

1928- ?maleEntered Mano Toen in Sado. Studied under Sasaki Shodo and Yasuhara Kimei. Founded a kiln in 1961. Won the Totokai Award, the Association President’s Award, the Japan Ceramic Art Exhibition Asahi Newspaper Award, and the Contemporary Arts and Crafts Exhibition Members’ Award. Member of the Contemporary Arts and Crafts Society, and judge for the society’s exhibition. Nitten affiliate. Mainly creates openwork and engraved patterns. (more…)

Ito Kosho 伊藤公象

1932-malekasama potteryBorn in Kanazawa. Studied under Kutani ware master Nakamura Suiko. Founded Sodosha in 1971. Won the Gold Prize at the Indian Triennale International Exhibition. Featured in the Hakone Open-Air Museum Grand Prize Exhibition, and international exhibitions in cities like Geneva, Venice, and Taipei. Specializes in sculptures, abstract designs, and kido. (more…)

Ito Kei 伊東慶

1924-maleEldest son of Nitten councilor Ito Suiko. First selected for Bunten in 1943, and has been selected for Nitten several times since. Graduated from Kyoto School of Art. Founded a kiln in 1969. Won the special Hokuto Prize at Nitten, among other awards. Judge for the Kofukai Exhibition, Kyoto Prefectural Art & Craft Exhibition, Contemporary Art & Craft Exhibition, and Nitten. Director of the Contemporary Art & Craft Society. Nitten member. Specializes in porcelain and kosai. (more…)

Ito Kei 伊藤圭

1937-1999maleshigaraki potteryGraduated from Yokkaichi Technical High School. Won awards at the Tokai Traditional Crafts Exhibition and the Chunichi International Exhibition of Ceramic Art, among others. Selected for the Japan Ceramic Art Exhibition, Japan Traditional Art Crafts Exhibition, and other exhibitions. Has held personal exhibitions at locations including the Inui Gallery in Akasaka, Kanazawa Daiwa, and Yokkaichi Kintetsu. Japan Kogei Association member. Uses a paddling method combining Shigaraki clay with the old Iga style. (more…)

Ito Iwao 伊藤巌

1948-malemashiko potteryBorn in Niihama, Ehime. Inspired by the style of Hamada Shoji, entered the Tsukamoto Ceramics Workshop. Became independent in 1976. Selected for the Traditional Craft New Works Exhibition and Japan Traditional Art Crafts Exhibition, and has held personal exhibitions at locations including Shibuya Tokyu, and the Dento Gallery in Matsuyama. Specializes in fabric patterns and iron glazing. (more…)

Ito Itsumi 伊藤五美

1956-maleMajored in ceramics at Kyoto Saga Art College. Studied under Azuma Ken, Iwabuchi Shigeya, and Kondo Hiroshi. Founded a kiln in 1982. Selected for and won awards at the Shinsho Kogeikai Exhibition, New Zealand International Ceramics Exhibition, and Japan Traditional Art Crafts Exhibition. Specializes in shirogesho kakiotoshi. (more…)

Ito Ichiyo 伊藤一曄

1933-malehagi potteryGraduated from Ryukoku University. Began studying pottery at the Kyoto Industrial Arts School. Completed his studies at the Kyoto Prefectural Ceramics School. Founded a kiln Shimonoseki, Yamaguchi Prececture in 1962. Has also trained in the United States and South Korea. In addition to winning an Honorable Mention at the Seibu Mainichi Ceramics Exhibition, has also been selected for the West Japan Ceramic Art Exhibition, among other exhibitions. Works with salt glaze, yakishime zougan, and gohonde. Holds a lot of personal exhibitions. (more…)

Itoi Tetsuo 糸井哲夫

1933-malemashiko potteryBorn in Tochigi. Graduated from Tochigi High School. In 1953, began learning the arts of sculpting, woodcuts, and pottery from Suzuki Kenji. In 1960, had sculptures displayed at a Jiyu Bijutsu exhibition, Nihon Bijutsukai, and the Salon des Indépendants. In 1974, he founded his own climbing kiln with three chambers. Has held personal exhibitions at locations including the Tochi Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Ginza Matsuya, Tochigi Gallery, and Yoshimoto Gallery; does not participate in open call exhibitions. (more…)

Ido Yoshihiro 井戸芳広

1943-maleGraduated from the Faculty of Law at Nagoya University. Later, inspired by Sen no Rikyu’s aesthetic of “returning to a pure soul,” he took up pottery. Studied under Miyamoto Takeyoshi in Seto. Makes tea bowls and vases, specializing in ash glaze. (more…)

Ide Teruko 井出照子

1947-femaleGraduated from Kyoto City University of Arts. Former professor at Universiti Teknologi MARA in Malaysia. Selected for the Japan Ceramic Art Exhibition, Japan Contemporary Ceramics Exhibition, and All Kansai Exhibition. Has held personal exhibitions at locations including Kuala Lumpur, Idumi Art Gallery, and Imabashi Art Gallery. Member of the Kinki branch of the Japan Contemporary Artisans Association. (more…)

Ide Katsuyuki 井出克幸

1959-maleBorn in Yokkaichi. Graduated from Seto Pottery Senior High School. Studied under Sugiura Yoshiki and Sugiura Buntai. Founded his own kiln in 1981. Lecturer at Japan Picture Book and Modeling College. Has featured in many exhibitions, including Nagano prefectural exhibitions. Holds a personal exhibition every year at Gallery Kuribayashi in Ueda. (more…)

Ide Katsuhiko 井手勝彦

1943 –maleUses the pseudonym Hakkeian. Trained in Mashiko. Founded a climbing kiln with five chambers in the city in 1972. In 1981, founded an anagama kiln. Specializes in yakishime, white porcelain, and kohiki. Has held personal exhibitions in multiple cities, including Kitakyushu and Fukuoka. (more…)

Ichinohe Hiroomi 一戸広臣

1954-malekamegaoka potteryBorn in Aomori. Started making pottery in Mino, Gifu in 1975, and later trained in Kyoto and Shiga. Founded a kiln in 1979, and named it Tsugaru Kamegaoka ware. Holds personal exhibitions every year in Aomori and Hirosaki. Makes tableware and tea bowls with cinnabar, zougan, carbon, etc. (more…)