Japanese potters – N

Nishimura Tokusen 3rd 三代 西村徳泉

1928-2007malekyo potteryThe third generation of Tokusen-gama. Inherited the art of blue-and-white tea ceremony pottery from his predecessor. Studied under Kiyomizu Rokubey the 6th and Kusube Yaichi. Won prizes at the Nitten and the Japan Modern Craft Exhibition, among others. Purchased by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan and Kyoto Prefecture. Awarded a prize at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Kyoto Prefecture, and others. Solo exhibitions at the Nihonbashi Takashimaya Department Store and elsewhere. A member of the Kyoto Prefecture Artisans Association. (more…)

Nishimura Shigeru 西邨滋

1943-2016maleBorn in Shiga Prefecture. Graduated from Kyoto University of Arts. Studied under Tomimoto Kenkichi. Received training at Tokushima Otani-gama, then moved to Aki City, Kochi Prefecture. Awarded a prize at the Traditional Craft Exhibition and others. (more…)

Nishimura Gen 西村玄

1941-malekyo potteryBorn in Kyoto City. Formerly known as Genji. Graduated from Hiyoshi-goka High School and Kyoto Institute of Technology, Department of Ceramics. Awarded many prizes at the Nitten and was a friend of the Society. Awarded the Contemporary Kogei Prize. Awarded the Yomiuri Newspaper Award. Awarded the Osaka Modern Craft Exhibition, Kyoto City Exhibition, Kyoto Prefecture Exhibition, and Kansai Art Exhibition. Invited to the Ceramics Exhibition in Bern, Switzerland. Technical guidance in West Germany and art training in various parts of Western Europe. Member of Nisshin Kogyo, Kyoto Toku, and Kyoto Art and Craft Association. Mainly produces vases using the (more…)

Nishibu Isao 西部功

1948-maleBorn in Mugi Town. Studied in the United States for two years from 1968. After graduating from the graduate school of Utsunomiya University in 1957, he studied pottery under the advice of Oka Naofumi. In 1979, he established the Katsura-gama kiln and became an independent potter. Selected for the Asahi Ceramic Art Exhibition, the Chunichi International Ceramic Art Exhibition, and others. (more…)

Nishihata Sueharu 西端末晴

1926-?maleBorn in Tamba Tachikui. He took over the family business in 1945 and began his career as a potter. He worked at the Hyogo Ceramic Training Institute in 1961, and retired in 1968 to devote himself to ceramics. His work was accepted for the first time at the Nitten the year before. Since then, he has been awarded prizes at the Nitten, Japan New Craft Exhibition, Hyogo Prefectural Exhibition, and other exhibitions. Judged at the Nitten and other exhibitions. A member of the Prefectural Industrial Art Association. Member of the New Craft and Beauty Association. (more…)

Nishida Ryoei 西田亮榮

1941-maleStudied under Yamamoto Masatoshi. Awarded the Chiba Prefectural Exhibition Governor’s Prize and the Chairman’s Prize. Awarded the Mayor’s Prize at the Osaka Municipal Arts and Crafts Exhibition. Awarded the Mayor’s Prize at the Sakai City Exhibition. Awarded the Mr. S and Mr. I Prize at the Kofukai Exhibition, the Kyoto Newspaper Award, and others. Selected for the Nitten, the Modern Craft Exhibition, the New Japan Craft Exhibition, and the Chunichi International Exhibition. Solo exhibitions including Ginza Matsuzakaya and others. Judge at the Kishiwada City Exhibition. (more…)

Nishida Yoshikatsu 西田吉勝

1908-?malekutani porcelainCalled Suisho. Graduated from Ishikawa Prefectural Shihan School. He worked hard in the prefecture’s educational circles and participated in the World Art Education Conference in 1955. After retiring in 1967, he studied under Kitade Tojiro and Tokuda Hachijukichi and learned Kutani ware. He is a member of the Creative Arts Society. Won prizes at the Japan Traditional Craft Exhibition and other competitions. (more…)

Nishida Masatoshi 西田正利

1938-maleBorn in Imari, Saga Prefecture. After working as a designer of Japanese tableware, he worked for 25 years in the design department of the Nagasaki Prefectural Ceramic Advisory Institute, and later worked at the Ceramics Research Institute. (more…)

Nishida Tokiko 西田時子

1914-?femaleBorn in Osaka City. Entered the Osaka Ceramics School in 1979 and studied under Mizuno Seikei. Built her kiln in 1983. Won the Women’s Ceramic Art Award and other prizes. Mainly works with Gozu. 池田市住吉1-11-4 (more…)

Nishijima Hideki 西嶋秀樹

1948-maleHe was born in Arao City, Kumamoto Prefecture. Moved to Kameoka, Kyoto in 1951. Graduated from the Kyoto Ceramic Vocational Training Institute. Studied under Ono Hatoyuki of Raku ware. Established his own kiln, Yanagi Gama in 1972. Awarded the Crafts Council Prize at the Kinki Branch Exhibition of the Japan Industrial Arts Association and other prizes. Awarded at the Japan Traditional Craft Exhibition and other exhibitions. Solo exhibitions include the Osaka Mitsukoshi Department Store and the Ginza Kuroda Toen. Makes pottery with inlays, tenmoku, iridescent glaze, Kohiki and brush marks. (more…)

Nishizaka Shunsui 西坂春水

1919-?malebizen potteryHis real name is Tsuyoshi. He was born in Osafune-cho and worked for a local agricultural cooperative after the war. In 1976 he established his own kiln in his birth town. (more…)

Nishikawa Minoru 西川實

1929-malekyo potteryGraduated from Kyoto Daini Institute of Technology. Studied under Kusube Yaichi and Kano Mitsuo. Accepted for the first time at the Nitten in 1948. Since then, he has been awarded the Special Prize and the Hokuto Prize, the Kikka Prize, and became, and a member of the jury. Established Fukakusa-gama in 1950. Awarded the first prize at the Asahi Ceramic Art Exhibition. A member prize of the Modern Craft Exhibition, and the Minister of Foreign Affairs Prize. Awarded the Tokyo Governor’s Prize at the Japan New Craft Exhibition, and served as a board member of the Nisshin Kogyo Association. (more…)

Nishikawa Masami 西川政美

1938-2004malebizen potteryBorn in Nagoya City, Japan. His father, Seisui, was a potter who taught at the Ceramic Art Center for many years. Studied under Kaneshige Toyo after graduating from the Okayama Prefectural Training Institute for Technicians. Worked under his father in 1963, and became independent in 1965 after his father’s death. Solo exhibition at Maruei, Nagoya. (more…)

Nishikawa Hajime 西川肇

1943-maleBorn in Isahaya, Nagasaki. Studied under Kato Tokuro and Shigetaka at Obata Suishoen in Nagoya in 1967. Returned to his hometown in 1950 and built his own kiln in Karakutani. Awarded a prize at the Asahi Ceramic Art Exhibition. Nagasaki G 5th solo exhibition. Mainly Oribe and firing works. He was inspired to work hard after the poor results from the first kiln. (more…)

Nishikawa Shiro 西川四郎

1933-?maleHis business name is Shunrei. Born in Kyoto. Graduated from the Kyoto Ceramic Training School. Studied under his father, who was a painter, and later joined Tezuka Gyokudo Toen and studied under his predecessor Gyokudo. Became an independent painter in 1970. Selected for the Creative Art Exhibition and the Friends’ Prize, etc. A member of the Creative Ceramics Exhibition. Mainly specializes in celadon, blue and white porcelain, and overglaze enamels. (more…)

Nishikawa Akira 西川明

1931-malekutani porcelainStudied under his father, Aiseki, and Dekizan Kami. Awarded the Mayor of Kaga Prize at the Kutani Ceramic New Work Exhibition. Selected for the Japan Traditional Craft Exhibition, the Branch Exhibition, and the Ishikawa Contemporary Art Exhibition. Invited to participate in the International Exhibition in Spain and Belgium. Made his own colored komon and dyed komon on traditional Kutani pottery, using white background, gold glazing, aka-e, old dyeing style, and Ninsei glazing on ceramics. (more…)

Nishigaki Kunio 西墻邦雄

1941-malebizen potteryBorn in Kano, Tottori City. Graduated from Tottori Technical High School. Worked at Nippon Steel’s Hirohata Ironworks and produced colored glass. Joined the Bizen Pottery Center in 1979, where he received training and taught students. Left the center in 1983 and became independent. (more…)

Nishiono Mukoshi 西小野無行子

1943-maleStudied under Kumagai Koyo since 1968. In 1975, he built an independent kiln in the area of the Kawaradake steel mine where there had been mining and refining under the influence of the Silla dynasty. He named the kiln “Yama-To-An Bangilero Kiln”. Fired in a half-ground split bamboo climbing kiln and molded with a kicking wheel. Won a prize at the Seibu Arts and Crafts Exhibition. (more…)