Japanese potters – I

Ichino Toyoharu 市野豊治

1947-maletamba potterySecond son of Ichino Tanso, an important figure in Tamba ware. Inherited the family’s climbing kiln in 1978, and began producing pottery. Selected for and won awards at Hyogo prefectural exhibitions, the Arts and Crafts Exhibition, and other exhibitions. Founded his own kiln in 1978, which he named the Shozan kiln. Has held personal exhibitions at locations including Osaka Hanshin, Kobe Daimaru, Kanazawa Daiwa, Shinjuku Kakiden, Kichijoji Tokyu, Nagoya Sun, and Nomura Art Museum in Kyoto. Specializes in tea bowls. (more…)

Ichino Toshinari 市野年成

1948-maletamba potteryBorn in Tamba Tachikake, Hyogo Prefecture, in the family of a Tamba pottery potter. 1971 Graduated from Osaka University of Arts, Department of Design, and studied under Shigeya Iwabuchi in Kyoto. 1974 Began making pottery at the family business, Ennen Kiln. He pursues a unique style based on the traditional techniques of Tamba ware, which is to apply a muddied white clay over a colored base, and to add a modern sensibility to his work. While using Tamba clay, he has produced tea ceremony utensils, sake cups, and tableware. 2001 Professor at Osaka University of Arts Junior College of (more…)

Ichino Hiroyuki 市野弘之

1924-maleFounded an anagama kiln in 1973, which he named the Ennen kiln. Has received several awards, such as the Japan Ceramics Exhibition Director’s Choice Award, the Hyogo Cultural Award, the Grand Prize at the Brussels World Fair, the Kobe Cultural Award, and the Superior Technical Skill Award. Judge of prefectural exhibitions and lecturer at Fukuyama University, among other things. (more…)

Ichino Gensho 市野元祥

1959-maletamba potteryGraduated from Kyoto Saga University of Arts. Studied under Iwabuchi Shigeya. Returned to his home town of Tamba in 1981. Selected for the Japan Kogei Association Kinki Exhibition and the Art and Craft Selection Exhibition. Held several personal exhibitions at the Tajima Gallery in Kobe. Specializes in tenmoku, greenware, and kohiki. (more…)

Ichino Shigeyoshi 市野茂良

1942-maletamba potteryCreates pottery at the Tamba ware Tanso kiln. After being invited by Bernard Leach, traveled to the UK to study. Selected for a prefectural exhibition. (more…)

Ichino Etsuo 市野悦夫

1950-maletamba potteryStudied at the Kyoto Prefectural Ceramics Technical School, and completed the ceramics course at the Kyoto City Industrial Research Institute. Won the Kobe Newspaper Award at the Hyogo prefectural exhibition. Selected for the Japan Ceramic Art Exhibition and the Japan Kogei Association Kinki Exhibition, among others. Has held personal exhibitions at Daimaru in Tokyo and Kyoto. (more…)

Ichiju Koki 一重孔希

1948-maleBorn in Shiokawa. Studied under Takita Koichi. First selected for the Kokugaten exhibition in 1970. Won the Best Newcomer Award at Kokugaten in 1972, and has been selected to participate in the exhibition every time since. Also selected for the Japan Folk Crafts Museum’s exhibition. Founded a kiln in Karasawa in 1975. Specializes in greenware and porcelain. (more…)

Ichikawa Tokiichi 市川富幾一

1949-maleGraduated from the Chiba University Junior College of Engineering. Trained in Seto and Naruto. Founded a kiln in his home town in 1980. Selected for the Traditional Craft New Works Exhibition and Musashino Exhibition. Won the Silver Award at the International Ceramics Exhibition. Member of the Chiba Art & Craft Association and the Japan Kogei Association Chiba Research Society. (more…)

Ichikawa Kozo 市川廣三

1930-maleStudied under Kusube Yaichi with his brother Tsusan. Affiliate of Nitten, with an exemption from examination. Won the Japan Contemporary Ceramics Exhibition Members’ Award, and selected for and won awards at the Asahi Ceramic Art Exhibition, All-Kansai Art Exhibition, and Chunichi International Exhibition of Ceramic Art. Judge for the Kyoto Arts and Crafts Exhibition and Kyoten. Has participated in many international ceramics exhibitions. His works have been purchased by organizations including the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. (more…)

Itabashi Hiromi 板橋廣美

1948-maleLearned at the Tajimi City Pottery Design and Technical Center. Studied under Ito Keiji. Won the Chunichi Grand Prize and the Governor’s Award at the Chunichi International Exhibition of Ceramic Art, the Asahi Ceramic Art Exhibition Grand Prize, the Yagi Kazuo Prize, and several other awards, and entered the Japan Ceramic Art Exhibition avant-garde division, the Modern Ceramics Exhibition, and the Asahi Craft Exhibition, among others. Has held many personal exhibitions. Creates sculptures and tableware. (more…)

Itaka Yosei 井髙洋成

1934-maleStudied under his father, the previous Kizan. Founded the Touyoukai with the Kizan kiln family, and held/organized exhibitions. Has held exhibitions at locations including Ginza Matsuya, Shinjuku Kakiden, Cologne in western Germany, and the Ginza Owaricho Gallery. Taught at Goldsmiths, University of London, and in 1987, presented a pottery course on NHK TV. (more…)

Isobe Akira 磯部晃

1945-maletokoname potteryGraduated from Nihon Fukushi University. Founded the Shorai kiln in 1975. Known for the natural glaze created by the anagama kiln and wood used as fuel. Earned an honorable mention at the Chunichi International Exhibition of Ceramic Art, among other awards. Selected for and won awards at the Choza Prize Ceramic Art Exhibition, Chubu Yomiuri Exhibition, Asahi Ceramic Art Exhibition, etc. (more…)

Isomi Tadashi 礒見忠司

1916-?maleGraduated from the Imperial Japanese Army Academy. Studied under Ishii Hakutei and Kitade Tojiro. Founded his own kiln in 1948. Selected for and won awards in Nitten, Asahi Ceramic Art Exhibition, contemporary art exhibitions, and others. (more…)

Isezaki Mitsuru 伊勢崎満

1934-malebizen potteryEldest son of Yozan. Learned sculpting at the art department of Okayama University. Began seriously studying pottery in 1957. Has had works featured in the Japan Traditional Art Crafts Exhibition, the contemporary pottery exhibitions held by the Tokyo and Kyoto Museums of Modern Art, the Japan Ceramic Art Exhibition, and others. In 1960, inspected and restored an old kiln in the Kokuyama foothills. Completely renovated the climbing kiln in 1976. Longtime member of the Toushinkai. Received the Kaneshige Toyo Award. Japan Kogei Association member. (more…)

Isezaki Jun 伊勢崎淳

1936-malebizen potteryliving national treasureStudied under his father Yozan. First selected for the Japan Traditional Art Crafts Exhibition in 1961. Featured in the Bizen Thousand Year Exhibition held by the Mainichi Newspaper, the Bizen/Hagi exhibitions held by the Gotoh Museum, theContemporary Japan Ceramic Art Exhibition held by the National Taiwan Museum, and the first All-Japan Traditional Craft Selection Exhibition, among others. Worked as a professor at Okayama University. Has held personal exhibitions at locations including Ginza Matsuya and Shinjuku Isetan. Received the Kaneshige Toyo Award. Japan Kogei Association member. (more…)

Ise Yukihiro 伊勢幸広

1946-maleLearned from Yamaoka Miaki of the Kobushi kiln in Iwamizawa. Founded the Shikoro kiln in 1975. Creates tableware using the color changes caused by throwing in natural ash during the firing process. (more…)

Izumi Yoshinori 和泉良法

1947-maleGraduated from the Craft Design department of Osaka University of Arts. Trained at Kyoto Industrial Research Institute. Studied under Suzuki Osamu. Founded the Sagano Daikakuji kiln in 1971. Specializes in greenware, kohiki, Jun ware, and tenmoku. (more…)

Izumi Hirofumi 泉水博文

1949-maleLearned Inma ware in Kagoshima from 1975, and in 1977 started studying at Kumamoto Industrial Research Institute. Founded a kiln in Uto, Kumamoto Prefecture in 1979, and named it the Higo ware Fumi kiln. Won an Honorable Mention at the Lifestyle Craft Exhibition, and the Nishinippon Newspaper Award at the Kyushu Craft Design Exhibition, as well as winning awards at other exhibitions. Member of the Kyushu Craft Designers Association. Specializes in shirogesho tableware. (more…)

Izumi Kisen 2nd 二代 泉喜仙

1926-maleohi potteryInherited his position at the Ohi ware Shoun kiln from the first-generation Kisen, and began producing pottery. Learned from his predecessor. Creates tea cups, mizusashi, vases, tea bowls, etc. (more…)

Izukura Juro 伊豆蔵寿郎

1920-?malekutani porcelainWorked at the Kyoto National Ceramics Laboratory, and studied under Hineno Sakuzo and Uno Sango. Selected for and won awards at Kokuten, Kyoten, the Contemporary Art Exhibition, and the Asia Contemporary Art Exhibition. Was invited to the São Paolo Museum of Art, and held a personal exhibition with the support of the city’s Japanese consulate, and received the Brazil Art and Culture Award. Director of the Asia Art Society. (more…)