Japanese potters – I

Ibi Hiroshi 井樋博

1928-maleshiraishi potteryInherited the tradition of Shiraishi ware as the seventh-generation head of the Hyakuju kiln. Started pottery in 1946. Selected for and won awards in the Kyushu Yamaguchi Ceramics Exhibition, the West Japan Crafts Exhibition, the Japan Folk Art Exhibition, the Saga prefectural exhibition, the Saga Art Society Exhibition, and the West Japan Ceramic Art Exhibition, among others. Has held personal exhibitions at locations including Izutsuya, Isetan, and Seiyu. Specializes in tobikanna and kakiotoshi. (more…)

Inoue Yoshihisa 井上佳久

1947-malekyo potteryStudied under Kiyomizu Rokubey VI. Won the Japan Contemporary Craft Association Members’ Award, Kofukai Kyoto Newspaper Award, Craft Award, and other awards. Nitten affiliate. Member of the Contemporary Artisans League, the Kofukai, and the Kyoto Ceramic Artists Club. Specializes in porcelain. (more…)

Inoue Manji 井上萬二

1929-2025malearita porcelainliving national treasureLearned pottery from Sakaida Kakiemon and Okugawa Tadaemon. Selected for and won awards at the Japan Traditional Art Crafts Exhibition and Japan Ceramic Art Exhibition. Received the Saga Prefecture Art & Culture Merit Award, and the Saga Prefectural Government Merit Award. Japan Kogei Association member. Director of the Saga Ceramics Society and the West Japan Kogei Association. His work with porcelain was designated an Important Intangible Cultural Property in ‘95. (more…)

Inoue Tadashi 井上規

1919-?maleGraduated from the design department of Saga Prefectural Arita Industrial School. Joined the prefecture’s Ceramics Institute. Founded the Kodashi Tadashi kiln in 1973. Participates in local exhibitions, etc. Specializes in kohiki, zougan, hakeme, and iron glazing. (more…)

Inoue Takeshi 井上武

1944-maletokoname potteryBorn in Tokoname, Aichi. Graduated from Doshisha University. After completing his studies at the Tokoname Ceramics Research Institute, he founded a kiln there. Recieved the Choza Prize and an Honorable Mention at the Asahi Ceramic Art Exhibition. Selected for the Japan Traditional Art Crafts Exhibition, Chunichi International Exhibition of Ceramic Art, and Japan Ceramic Art Exhibition, among others. Japan Kogei Association member. (more…)

Inoue Takeo 井上猛雄

1950-maleStudied under Kamiya Norio. Creates ceramic murals and sculptures. Has held personal exhibitions at the Nishi-Chiba Tsubaki Gallery, the Gin Gallery in Ginza, Inui Gallery in Akasaka, and Ginka Gallery. Works on the parks and pathways in Koto City. (more…)

Inoue Taishu 井上泰秋

1941-maleshodai potteryTrained at the Kumamoto Industrial Research Institute. Studied under Morino Kako. Began independent work in 1965, and in 1968 renamed his kiln to the Shodai ware Fumoto kiln. Received the Minister for Foreign Affairs’ Award at the Japan Ceramic Art Exhibition, and the Grand Prize at the Japan Folk Crafts Museum, among other awards. Protects the old traditions of Shodai ware pottery through his work. (more…)

Inoue Shun’ichi 井上俊弌

1947-maleGraduated from Kyoto City University of Arts. Selected for and won awards at Nitten, Japan Contemporary Ceramics Exhibition, and others. Independent since 1983. Professor at the Department of Art at University of Teacher Education Fukuoka. Active internationally, he holds personal exhibitions in between traveling to countries where he is invited to teach. He uses a mixed technique with glass, and specializes in shallow bowls, pots, and ceramic tiles. (more…)

Inoue Juhaku 井上寿博

1941-maleBorn in Kyoto. Graduated from Musashino Art University. Received the special Hokuto Prize at Nitten, and the Itaya Hazan Prize, among others. Also active internationally. Judge for the Ibaraki Art Festival and the Gunma Art Exhibition. Member of the Ibaraki Craft Association and the Contemporary Arts and Crafts Society. Nitten affiliate. (more…)

Inoue Shusei 井上秋晴

1924-malekutani porcelainGraduated from Ishikawa Technical Senior High School. Became Shusei the 2nd in 1965. Selected for and won awards at the Kagami Exhibition, the Ishikawa Prefecture Traditional Kutani Ware Craft Exhibition, and the Asia Contemporary Art Exhibition. Was the only one to inherit the “miniature” (Daiseiji akae) style of Kutani overglaze decoration, which requires highly advanced technique. (more…)

Inaba Kosaku 稲葉幸作

1947-maleGraduated from Tokyo University of Agriculture. Trained at a Koishiwara ware kiln in Fukuoka from 1972. Founded a half-underground anagama kiln in 1975. Has held several personal exhibitions in Fukuoka. Independent. Mainly creates unglazed yakishime using clay from the Chikuho area. (more…)

Inatomi Keiichiro 稲富啓一郎

1950-maleBorn in Saga. Majored in ceramics at Tokyo University of the Arts, and completed postgraduate study there. Learned from Fujimoto Yoshimichi. Selected for the Traditional Craft Kinki Exhibition, Japan Kogei Association Exhibition, Osaka Craft Exhibition, and others. Participated in the founding of the Hyogo Craft Association. Assistant at the Faculty of Art at Osaka Kyoiku University. Has held personal exhibitions at Umeda Hankyu. Specializes in blue and white. (more…)

Inada Yoko 稲田陽子

1955-femaleBorn in Fukuchiyama, Kyoto. Graduated from Kyoto Saga Art College. Studied under Iwabuchi Shigeya, Azuma Ken, and Kondo Hiroshi. After working at the Tekisui kiln at the Tekisui Museum of Art, founded the Yo Studio in 1982. Specializes in tableware made with senbori, inka, and yakishime. (more…)

Inada Yuseki 稲田祐石

1944-malebizen potteryAfter training for a period of nearly 10 years, founded the Teraoku kiln in 1973. Has won an Honorable Mention at the Okayama prefectural exhibition, among other awards. Selected for the Chunichi International Exhibition of Ceramic Art, Traditional Craft Flower Container Exhibition, and others. Had works specially selected for the Gengakai exhibition. Creates pots, vases, and ornaments in Bizen. (more…)

Inagaki Tansai 稲垣淡斎

1913-?maleInspired by the works of Tanigawa Shunyo, learned yuteki tenmoku. In 1973, while working as a salaryman, founded the Tansai Ceramics Studio and Minyo kiln on his property. Was always independent, and devoted to ceramics. Researched the methods used in ancient China, and made Cizhou ware, Jian ware, Jizhou ware, and Jun ware. (more…)

Ina Hisashi 伊奈久

1912-1991maleGraduated from Tokoname Industrial School. Trained at the Kyoto National Research Institute. After working at the Hokkaido Industrial Research Institute, became the first head of the Asahikawa Ceramics Institute. Later founded the Japan Ceramics Club in Harajuku, Tokyo. Veteran pottery teacher. (more…)

Ito Yoshinori 伊藤良典

1943-malemino potteryGraduated from Musashino Art University. Trained at the Gifu Ceramics Institute, and learned from Kato Kobei. Later studied under Oshima Hisaoki. Became independent in 1973. Holds mainly personal exhibitions. Creates Shino, Oribe, and Mino ware blue and white. (more…)

Ito Keiji 伊藤慶二

1935-maleBorn in Gifu. Graduated from Musashino Art University. Selected for and won awards at the Craft Exhibition, Japan Ceramic Art Exhibition, and Asahi Ceramic Art Exhibition. Member of the Japan Craft Design Association. Professor at the Tajimi City Pottery Design and Technical Center. Has held several personal exhibitions. (more…)

Ito Yushi 伊藤雄志

1945-maleStudied under Hineno Sakuzo. Won the Gold Award at the Vallauris Biennale International Ceramics Exhibition. Selected for the Asahi Ceramic Art Exhibition, Japan Ceramic Art Exhibition, Chunichi International Exhibition of Ceramic Art, and Japan Traditional Art Crafts Exhibition. Has held personal exhibitions at locations including Ikebukuro Seibu, Ginza Kuroda Toen, and Shinjuku Masudaya. Makes kohiki and nerikomi with salt glaze. Japan Kogei Association member. (more…)

Ito Yu 伊藤優

1950-maleseto potteryStudied under Suzuki Hachiro and Kawamoto Goro. Selected for and won awards at the Japan Contemporary Crafts Exhibition, Asahi Ceramic Art Exhibition, Chunichi International Exhibition of Ceramic Art, Chubu Nika/Nikaten Painting Division, Japan Contemporary Ceramics Exhibition, and Nitten. Held personal exhibitions at locations including Nagoya Asato and Akasaka Hikari Gallery. Has participated in the All-Chubu Art Exhibition, and the Cha no Bijutsu Mexico and Canada exhibitions. Specializes in slab building and quail egg patterns. (more…)