Japanese potters – I

Iwasaki Hosho 岩崎峰昇

1926-malehagi potteryFounded the Hagitozan Hosho kiln in 1965. Director and former chairman of the Hagi Traditional Ceramics Society. Won the City Council Chairman’s award at the society’s exhibition, and the Memorial Award at the Contemporary Art and Craft Chugoku Exhibition, among other awards. (more…)

Iwasaki Tadashi 岩崎正

1933-maleGraduated from Saga Prefectural Takeo High School. Worked at the Iwao Ceramics Institute and Sasebo Tile Laboratory. Founded a kiln in 1975. Learned from Nakazato Taroemon and Aoki Ryuzan. Selected for and won awards at Nitten, the Kofukai Exhibition, Japan Contemporary Ceramics Exhibition, and Kyushu Yamaguchi Ceramics Exhibition, among others. Member of the Japan Contemporary Artisans League Kyushu and the Saga Art Society. Specializes in greenware, Jun ware, tenmoku glaze, and paddling. (more…)

Iwasaki Sadao 岩崎貞夫

1909-maleBirth name Sokichi. Learned from Kimura Ichiro in Mashiko, followed by Hayashi Kagemasa in Toki. Later led a ceramics school. Has held personal and group exhibitions at locations including Ginza Matsuya and Shibuya Tokyu. Makes traditional tea bowls in Shino, Oribe, Karatsu, and Hagi ware. (more…)

Iwasaka Tadashi 岩坂直

1943-maleBorn in Kyoto. Studied under Kato Tokuhiro. Founded a kiln in 1983. Selected for and won awards at the Japan Traditional Art Crafts Exhibition, among other exhibitions. Has held personal exhibitions at locations including Nihonbashi Mitsukoshi. Specializes in Jun ware. Japan Kogei Association member. (more…)

Iwai Takamichi 岩井孝道

1952-maleTrained at the Hokkaido Industrial Research Institute and the Nagoya Industrial Technology Research Institute. Studied in Shigaraki and Asahikawa, and founded the Kayo kiln in 1981. Held personal exhibitions at Kuroda Toen, Ginza. Creates ornamental items with greenware, and tableware with ash glaze and blue densei glaze. (more…)

Iwai Jun 岩井純

1947-maleGraduated from Sendai Second High School, and the Faculty of Science at Hokkaido University. Studied under Okumura Koichi in Kyoto. Founded the Nigachi kiln in 1976. Selected for the Traditional Craft Musashino Exhibition and New Works Exhibition. Received the International Ceramics Exhibition Excellence Award, among other awards. Specializes in crystalline glaze and tenmoku. (more…)

Iwai Keiitsu 岩井慶逸

1913-?maleBegan creating pottery in 1971, when he was 60. While working as the head of a company, he founded a kiln on his property, and the first time he replaced his normal New Year’s presents to friends and family with his zodiac-themed tea vessels, they were met with praise by all. (more…)

Iwao Motohiko 岩男元彦

1947-maleagano potteryStudied under Watari Takahisa. In 1972, founded the Motohiko kiln as a member of the Ueno potters’ village. Selected for the Japan Traditional Art Crafts Exhibition, among others. Specializes in the old Ueno style of kakiotoshi. (more…)

Iriyama Seigetsu 圦山成月

1922-?banko potteryGraduated from Yokkaichi Technical High School. Fourth-generation head of the Banko ware Seigetsu kiln, specializing in wooden-mold Banko, clay-mold Banko, and hand-formed Banko. (more…)

Imura Noriko 伊村徳子

1935-femaleBorn in Osaka. Graduated from Kanagawa College of Art. Later founded the Shirakura kiln withe her husband Shosuke. Selected for the Japan Ceramic Art Exhibition and the Women’s Association of Ceramic Art Exhibition. Has held personal exhibitions at locations including Nagoya Gallery Asato and Gifu Gallery Emishi. Specializes in Oribe ware. (more…)

Imura Shosuke 伊村彰介

1935-malemino potteryGraduated from Kanazawa College of Art. Studied under Kitade Tojiro. Founded a kiln in Mino in 1963, and in his home town, Hiyoshi in 1971. Selected for the Japan Ceramic Art Exhibition, among others. Creates tea bowls in the Iga, Oribe, and Setoguro styles. (more…)

Imamura Hiroshi 今村博

1938-malearita porcelainGraduated from Arita Industrial School. Studied under Aoki Ryuzan. Won the Nagasaki Daily Newspaper Award at the Nagasaki prefectural exhibition, as well as the Nishinippon Newspaper Award, Contemporary Craft Award, Saga Governor’s Award, and the Grand Prize at the Kyushu Craft Design Exhibition. Selected for and won awards at the Kyushu Yamaguchi Ceramics Exhibition, Nitten, and other exhibitions. Affiliate of the Japan Contemporary Craft Association. Member of the Kyushu Contemporary Craft Association, Saga Ceramics Society, and Arita Ceramics Society. Specializes in nerikomi. (more…)

Imamura Kazuo 今村一男

1949-maletokoname potteryBorn in Tokoname. Learned pottery at Mino. In 1976, first selected for the Chunichi International Exhibition of Ceramic Art. Won the Choza Prize at the Tokoname Choza Prize Exhibition. Selected for Asahi Ceramic Art Exhibition, among others. Tokoname Craft Association member. Mainly creates kohiki, cinnabar, and Jun ware. (more…)

Imano Toshio 今野登志夫

1951-malemino potteryBorn in Yokohama. Graduated from the College of Art at Nihon University. Studied under Kato Shuntei and Moriwaki Fumitada. Won the Japan Traditional Art Crafts Exhibition, among others. Founded his own kiln in 1980. Japan Kogei Association member. Mainly creates Oribe, tessai, and ash glaze. 1977 Selected for the first time at the 8th Tokai Kogei Exhibition (and annually thereafter)1980 Built a kiln in Shibakawa-cho, Shizuoka PrefectureSelected for the first time at the 27th Japan Traditional Crafts Exhibition1993 Awarded the Chunichi Prize at the 24th Tokai Traditional Craft Exhibition1994 Awarded the Recommendation Prize at the 25th Tokai Traditional Craft (more…)

Imanishi Masaya 今西方哉

1947-maleGraduated from Kyoto City University of Arts. Studied under Kondo Yuzo. Won the Nikkei Prize at the Kinki Traditional Craft Exhibition, and an Honorable Mention at Shinsho Kogeikai. Won the Japan Ceramic Art Exhibition, among others. Has held personal exhibitions at locations including Ikebukuro Seibu. Published the book “Let’s Make Ceramics” through Bunken Publishing. Japan Kogei Association member. (more…)

Imaizumi Imaemon 13th 十三代 今泉今右衛門

1926-2001malearita porcelainnabeshima porcelainliving national treasureThe eldest son of Imaemon XII, Imaemon XIII studied at Arita Technical School and Tokyo Schhol of Fine Arts before returning to his hometown to study pottery under his father.In 1975, his father passed away and he became the 13th Imaemon. (During this time, he participated in exhibitions such as the Japan Traditional Kogei Exhibition and the Issui Society Exhibition, was conferred the Issui Society Chairman’s Award and the Japan Kogei Association Chairman’s Award, as well as was nominated for member and regular member of both exhibitions.)After his succession, Imaemon XIII arranged solo exhibitions in various (more…)

Imai Yasuto 今井康人

1937-maleiga potteryBorn in Shigaraki. Studied under Kawai Zuiho in Kyoto. Active in Nitten and the Japan Contemporary Craft Exhibition. In 1973 he moved to Iga, and attempted to make tea bowls in the old Iga style. Has held personal exhibitions at locations including Nihonbashi Mitsukoshi, Osaka, and Nagoya Mitsukoshi. (more…)

Imai Masayuki 今井政之

1930-2023maleBorn in Osaka. Co-founded the Kyoto Seiyoukai in 1953. Studied under Kusube Yaichi. Has won several awards, including the special Hokuto Prize at Nitten, and the Honorary Grand Prize at the Biennale International Ceramics Exhibition. Has experience working as a judge and councillor for Nitten. Nitten member. Specializes in inlay woks.1952 Established the Seitokai Society in Kyoto under the auspices of Kusunobe Yaichi, a recipient of the Order of Cultural Merit, and became a member of the society.1959 Awarded a special prize and the Order of the Hokut award at the Nitten (awarded again in 1963).1965 Selected as a new (more…)

Ibe Yoshihiro 伊部義浩

1944-maleStarted on the path of ceramics in 1970. In 1976, he founded Toyomitsu Ceramics Studio in Otani, Toyomitsu-cho. Creates traditional tools using hakeme, nagashigake (dripping glaze), and kugibori (relief carving), and vases made with blue and white, or cinnabar. (more…)

Ibuki Mitsuyo 伊吹光代

1939-femaleFirst started pottery by studying under Motokawa Shiro in Nagasaki from 1973. Won the Women’s Association of Ceramic Art Exhibition multiple times consecutively. Associate member of the Women’s Association of Ceramic Art. Makes tea bowls and tableware with blue and white, zougan, and rounuki. (more…)