Japanese potters – M

Morioka Kasho 3rd 三代 森岡嘉祥

1937-2009malekyo potteryBorn in Gojozaka, Kyoto, the eldest son of Kasho II. In 1970, in search of the origin of tea ceremony pottery, he visited the sites of ancient kilns in various parts of Korea several dozen times, and pursued techniques of Korean pottery, Mishima, brushwork, powder glaze, Totoya, and Iraho. In 1972, on the occasion of the abolition of the climbing kiln on Gojo-zaka, he built a pollution-free climbing kiln in Yamashina, installed a pollution control system, and fired pottery in splitting pine wood. Nihonbashi Mitsukoshi Department Store, Hotel Chinzan-so Mejiro, Ginza Central Picture Gallery, Nihonbashi Kochukyo Gallery, Hankyu Department (more…)

Mori Masahiro 森正洋

1927-2005maleBorn in Saga Prefecture. Graduated from Arita Technical High School. Graduated from Tama Art University. Currently a freelance designer of industrial ceramics. Visiting professor at Aichi University of Arts. Received the first Good Design Award. Kunii Prize of the Craft Foundation. Mainichi Industrial Design Award. Gold Prize at the Faenza Ceramics Exhibition. Gold Prize at the Valencia International Industrial Design Exhibition. Member of the Japan Design Committee. (more…)

Mori Furai 森風来

1917-?malebizen potteryHis real name is Yasuro. He was born into Mori family, one of the six Bizen Pottery owners. In 1969, he built a kiln in Inbe, Bizen City. Solo exhibitions at Ginza and Takamatsu Mitsukoshi Department Store. His works are often crafted under the influence of his elder brother, Mori Hozan, and younger brother, Takatori Kanzan. (more…)

Mori Yasushi 森泰司

1947-malebizen potteryHe is the eldest son of Mori Hozan (Mori Zenichiro), a member of a family of six Bizen Pottery owners, and graduated from the first class of the Bizen Pottery Center in 1968. He received the Mayor’s Prize, the Education Director’s Prize, the Honorable Mention at the Okayama Prefectural Exhibition, and Honorable Mention at Chunichi International Exhibition. Selected for the Japan Ceramic Art Exhibition, the Asahi Ceramic Art Exhibition, the Japan Traditional Craft Exhibition, and others. Solo exhibitions at Ikebukuro Tobu Department Store, Yokohama Takashimaya Department Store, the Okayama Prefectural Exhibition, Minami Aoyama Green Gallery, and Osaka Kintetsu Department (more…)

Mori Hiroshi 森浩

1933-1996malebizen potteryAfter learning at the Seto Ceramics Research Institute, he trained at various kilns and studied under Hamada Shoji and Kondo Yuzo. He has been awarded prizes at the Shinsho-kai and Nihon Mingeikan exhibitions. A board member of the Tokushima Prefecture Art Association. Invited to the Tokushima Prefecture Exhibition. Received the Tokushima Newspaper Culture Award and many others. His works range from very large pieces to small ones. (more…)

Mori Tozan 森陶山

1938-malebizen potterySusumu is his real name. Graduated from Bizen High School, trained under his father, Mori Chikuzan in 1957, and built his first kiln in 1965. Built a semi-underground kiln at the foot of Mount Daimyojin in 1983, and became Chairman of Bizen-Toshin-kai in 1985. He was awarded many prizes at the Japan Traditional Craft Exhibition, the Japan Ceramic Art Exhibition, and Chunichi International Ceramic Art Exhibition. Solo exhibitions at the Roppongi Ceramic Salon, Ginza Matsuya Department Store, Shinjuku Isetan Department Store and others. (more…)

Mori Togaku 森陶岳

1937-malebizen potteryHis real name is Saizo. He is the eldest son of Mori Hidetsugu, a member of the family of six Bizen kiln owners. In 1963, his work was selected for the first time for the Japan Traditional Crafts Exhibition, and since then it has been purchased by the Museum of Modern Art, Kyoto. He was awarded the President’s Prize at the East Chugoku Branch Exhibition. He is a regular member of Japan Kogei Association.In 1977, he built the Aioi-oh-gama Kiln (46 meters long climing kiln), and in 1981, he built the Kanpuzan-oh-gama Kiln (53-meter-long climbing kiln) at the Sabukaze (more…)

Mori Teisai 森丁斎

1949-malebizen potteryHis real name is Hiroaki. Graduated from Aichi University. Studied under his father, Furai, and became an independent artist in 1976. Selected for the Japan Traditional Craft Exhibition and other awards. Solo exhibitions at Ikebukuro Sunshine and Ginza Mitsukoshi Department Store. (more…)

Mori Tadashi 森正

1940-maleBorn in Yokkaichi. Awarded the Governor’s Prize of Mie Prefecture, Kawasaki Prize, Honorable Mention, and Steering Committee Member of the Asahi Ceramic Art Exhibition. Special Prize, Aichi Prefectural Governor’s Prize, Chunichi International Exhibition. Invited to the Faenza International Exhibition. Small and Medium Enterprise Commissioner Prize, Japan Ceramic Design Exhibition. Solo exhibitions at Nagoya Kyorando Gallery, Akasaka Ken Gallery, Kyoto Gallery Maronie, Osaka Daimaru Department Store, etc. Member of the Japan Designers Association. Focuses on ceramic boards and interior design. (more…)

Mori Seishi 森青史

1944-2011malebizen potteryBorn in a Bizen Pottery kiln. Graduated from Waseda University. Trained under his father, Chikuzan, and brother, Tozan, and built a direct-flame semi-ground kiln in 1975. Selected for the Japan Traditional Crafts Exhibition, the East Chugoku Branch Exhibition, and the Okayama Prefecture Exhibition. Solo exhibitions at Ikebukuro Seibu Department Store and others. Member of the Oriental Ceramic Society. (more…)

Mori Shinsen 森神仙

1932-?malebizen potteryHis real name is Manabu. Born in Inbe. The second son of Mori Chikuzan, a member of the Mori family of Bizen pottery owners. Mori Tozan is his younger brother. After graduating from Bizen High School, he worked for a brick company, and in 1974, he left the company to become an independent potter. He was awarded the Chairman’s Prize at the Japan Traditional Craft Branch Exhibition. His work has been selected for the Japan Traditional Craft Exhibition and others. (more…)

Mori Shunzan 森俊山

1957-malekyo potteryBorn in Kyoto, Japan. Born in Kiyomizu Pottery. Completed the Kyoto Pottery Training School and the Ceramics Department of the Industrial Research Institute. Studied under Miyashita Zenju and Zenji. Received the Governor’s Prize at the Kyoto Gallery Selected Artists Exhibition, the Japan New Craft Exhibition, the Kyoto Exhibition, the Japan Ceramic Art Exhibition, and others. (more…)

Mori Katsushi 森勝資

1954-maleGraduated from Kanazawa Art University in 1978. Established Keyaki Pottery Studio. He has been awarded prizes at the Japan Traditional Craft Exhibition and others. He creates vases and tableware using marbled ware, mishima-te, inlay, and other techniques. (more…)

Mori Iroku 3rd 三代 森伊呂久

1936-?malebanko potteryHe is the third generation to inherit his family business based on the tradition of Banko ware. He uses his unique skills to apply diamond-cut surface treatment and chrysanthemum pattern carving to kyusu teapots. In 1980, he was certified as a traditional artisan of Banko ware. He was awarded a prize at the regional exhibition. (more…)

Mori Isso 森一宗

1936-?malebizen potteryHis real name is Shigeru. He is from a family of six Bizen ware pottery owners. Mori Togaku is his cousin. Graduated from the Ceramics Department of Bizen High School. After retiring from a brick company in 1980, he decided to make pottery in earnest. Studied under Fujiwara Rakuzan. Selected for the Okayama Prefectural Exhibition. (more…)

Mori Ichizo 森一蔵

1945-malebanko potteryBorn in Kuwana, Mie Prefecture. After graduating from Kuwana High School, set his sights on Western-style painting. Graduated from Tokyo Asami Art School. Studied under Hineno Sakuzo and Fujisawa Noboru. In 1974, built a climbing kiln and opened the Rokko Kiln in Asoda, Mie Prefecture. He was selected for the Asahi Ceramic Art Exhibition, Chunichi International Exhibition, the Yagi Kazuo Grand Prize Exhibition, and others. A coterie member of Sodeisha. Solo exhibitions at Osaka Central Gallery, Shinjuku Keio Department Store, Ikebukuro Seibu Department Store, Ginza Wako and others. His works include tableware and Sculpture, mainly in the old Banko (more…)

Mori Ichiki 森一紀

1911-?maleBorn in Terai, Ishikawa Prefecture. His older brother is Mori Kazumasa. Studied under western-style painter Nabei Katsuyuki. Moved to Nogaya-cho, Machida City in 1951. Active in the Maniha-kai and the Issui-kai. (more…)

Momota Kazan 百田火山

1905-?maleHe opened Ushukubi kiln in Onojo, Fukuoka Prefecture, and has been making tea ceremony pottery for 50 years. Mainly using tapping, coiling and embossing. While living a simple life in the mountains, he does not seek honor, and works to revive Yohen Tenmoku tea bowl. (more…)

Motoyama Yasuharu 茂登山泰晴

1948-maleBorn in Tokyo, he studied under Yamada Seiji in Tajimi in 1970, and later under Nonaka Shunho in Yokohama. In 1974, he built a kiln at his home in Yokohama and became independent. In 1976, he moved to Tone County, Gunma Prefecture, and built a cellar kiln in 1981. He was awarded a special prize at the Kanagawa Prefectural Exhibition. Awarded the Mainichi Newspapers Prize at the Gunma Prefecture Exhibition. Selected for the New Works of Japanese Traditional Crafts Exhibition, Musashino Exhibition and others. Solo exhibitions at Shinjuku Odakyu Department Store and Maebashi Kankodo bookstore. Works with natural glaze, high-fired (more…)

Motoyama Yaeno 本山ヤエノ

1920-?femalebizen potteryBorn in Inbe. Her son is Izumi. She started her pottery career in 1967 and established her own kiln in 1970. In 1973, she was awarded the Cultural Association Prize at the Cultural Festival. She was selected for the East China Branch of the Japan Traditional Crafts Exhibition and is a member of the same branch. She makes mainly vases for flowers, hand twisted jars, and practical tableware. (more…)