Japanese potters – M

Matsubayashi Hosai 15th 十五代 松林豊斎

1950-2015maleasahi potteryReal name is Matsubayashi Yoshikane. 15th generation Matsubayashi Hosai. After graduating Musashino Art University College of Art and Design, he learned potter’s wheel shaping techniques at the Kyoto Prefectural Ceramists’ Technical Institute and the basics of glazing at the Nagoya Municipal Industrial Research Institute. He then became an apprentice to his father, Matsubayashi Hosai (Yukoan) the 14th, and trained in the traditional technique of asahi ware.He is known for the skin-colored glaze that is characteristic of asahi ware on gohon-style tea bowls and green tea ware. (more…)

Mashimizu Zoroku 1st 初代 真清水蔵六

1822-1877maleShimizu Tasaburo the First learned pottery techniques from his uncle, Wake Kitei, then opened his own kiln in Gojozaka. The Mashimizu Zoroku artist name began when he changed his name to Zoroku, took the letter “Ma” from Myoho-in Temple, and named himself “Mashimizu Zoroku.”Using techniques such as overglaze decoration, kinrade, and celadon ware, Zoroku the First mainly created matcha and green tea wares. For his potter’s mark, he used a mark that was gifted to him from Gengensai Soshitsu. (more…)

Mashimizu Zoroku 4th 四代 真清水蔵六

1933-maleApprenticed to Zoroku the Third to preserve the family business, Zoroku the Fourth is skilled at celadon ware, white slip ware, and overglaze decoration. He mainly creates matcha tea and green tea tools. He is also skilled at creating ornaments of Jurojin (god of longevity) and animals, and holds many solo exhibitions. (more…)

Mashimizu Zoroku 2nd 二代 真清水蔵六

1861-1936maleBorn the first son of Mashimizu Zoroku the First, Zoroku the son inherited the family business and toured various cities around Japan, then to China and Korea to study celadon, Korean Yi Dynasty and Goryeo ware. After returning home, he opened his kiln in 1917 in Yamashina, Kyoto, and established the Mashimizu style.In the beginning of his career, Zoroku used his father’s hyakuju mark as a potter’s mark, but started using his own Zoroku mark around the age of 25. (more…)

Miwa Kyusetsu 11th 十一代 三輪休雪

1910-2012malehagi potteryliving national treasureBorn the third son of the Miwa kiln’s ninth generation Kyusetsu (Setsudo) of Hagi ware tradition, Miwa Kyusetsu studied under his father and older brother (the 10th generation Kyusetsu: Kyuwa) after graduating middle school, and also studied under Kawakita Handeishi.After a long period of training, he took on the pottery artist name “Kyu” and displayed his work in 1955. He was chosen for a prize for the first time in the Fourth Japan Traditional Kogei Exhibition in 1957, and he continued to be chosen for prizes from that point onward. In 1960, he was nominated for member (more…)

Miwa Kyusetsu 10th 十代 三輪休雪

1895 – 1981malehagi potteryliving national treasureHe was born as a child of the 9th Miwa Kyusetsu (Setudo) of the Miwa Kiln of the traditional Hagi Pottery. After he had been disciplined and influenced by his father and his grandfather (the 8th Kyusetsu: Setsuzan), he inherited his family business and in 1927 he inherited the professional name as the 10th Kyusetsu.He has worshiped and adored works of generations of Kyusetu, and devoted himself to the research of kaolin. Eventually he combined the Hagi clay and white glaze to complete the unique glaze called “Kyusetsujiro”. He has also added the character of (more…)

Matsui Kosei 松井康成

1927-2003malekasama potteryliving national treasureAfter graduating from university, he was inaugurated as 24th chief priest of the Tsukiso Jodo Temple in Kasama, Ibaraki prefecture in 1957.In 1959, he began restoring the old kiln at the temple’s gate, conducting unique research into ancient pottery from China, Korea and Japan. Further, from 1967 he received training from Tamura Koichi, dedicating himself to the study of Chinese kneading and inlaying techniques in particular. He first exhibited “Renjo te obachi” at the 9th Traditional Kogei Exhibition, receiving an honorable mention award. Thereafter, he amassed displays at every exhibition, and repeatedly amassed various awards such as (more…)

Munakata Ryoichi 宗像亮一

1933-?malehongo potteryBorn as the 1st son of the 6th generation Munakata Toyomune (or read as Toyooki) of the Hongo ware Munakata kiln, which is said to be the oldest ascending kiln in the Tohoku region. Started making ceramics under the guidance of his father in 1949. Became the 7th generation upon the passing of his father in 1970.Won the Japan Folk Crafts Museum’s Award in 1971. Also won the 1st Fukushima Prefectural Art Award in the same year, the Prefectural Art Distinguished Service Award in 1989, the Industrial Distinguished Service Award in 1994, the Regional Culture Distinguished Service Award (awarded (more…)

Murata Gen 村田元

1904-1988malemashiko potteryBorn in 1904 in Kanazawa City, Ishikawa Prefecture. Although originally an aspiring painter, he could not make a living as a painter, thus he came to Mashiko to rely on the renowned Shouji Hamada immediately after the war. He began training as a pupil to practice his ceramic skills in 1944, rose up to a place in Mashiko called Kitagoya, built a furnace and became independent in 1954. Murata transported his completed pottery on his bicycle-towed trailer to the streets of Mashiko for sale, but his life was so difficult that his wife devoted herself to support the family. (more…)

Matsuyama Gaei 1st 初代 松山雅英

1916-1963malekujaku potteryAfter the outbreak of the Sino-Japanese War, the first generation Matsuyama Gaei went to mainland China as consul, where he was awed by the pottery he saw and took up studying the craft. In 1947, Matsuyama returned to Japan, where he built a kiln in Tatsunocho-Tominaga, Hyogo Prefecture. Under the guidance of Kiyomizu Rokubey from Kyoto, Matsuyama began his rise as a pottery craftsman.Matsuyama moved his kiln to Kamikajo Town in 1950, where he completed his yohen temoku glaze the following year and produced his kujaku pottery. In 1963, the first generation Gaei Matsuyama suffered a stomach disease and (more…)

Morishita Mokuji 森下杢二

1823-1889maleisuzu potteryHis real name is Mokujiro. He trained thoroughly under the Tokoname ware potter Matsushita Sanko since he was a child and opened a Mayake kiln in Sakai, Tokoname in 1879.Although he exclusively fired pots and jars at first, he gradually began to create tea sets for green tea and matcha tea. In particular, he became famous as a master of glazed water droppers.Furthermore, under the guidance of Raku Kichizaemon (maybe 11th generation Keinyu) in Kyoto, he learned the techniques of Aka Raku and created Raku ware.In addition, he was invited to make Isuzu (-gawa) ware in Ise and gave (more…)