Japanese potters – N

Nishikawa Satoshi 西川聡

1967-maleBorn in Aichi Prefecture, Japan1990 Graduated from Musashino Art University, Department of Crafts and Industrial Design1995 Selected for the 4th International Ceramics Exhibition Mino1996 Selected, Japan Craft Exhibition1997 Works in Spain, two-person exhibition, Wandering in Africa, Middle East and Western Europe1998 Established KAYA1999 Excellent Prize, Craft National Open Call 99 Sapporo, Encouraging Prize, Northern Confectionery Exhibition2000 Craft City Takaoka 2000 Craft Competition, Incentive Award, 08 Award of Excellence2004 Moved workshop to Yugawara-cho, Kanagawa Prefecture (more…)

Niisato Akio 新里明士

1977-maleBorn in Chiba, Japan. Graduated from Tajimi City Institute of Ceramic Design. Currently based in Gifu Prefecture.He has attracted domestic and international attention for his contemporary designs using a technique called “Hotarude,” in which a hole is drilled in the white porcelain material formed on a wheel, the hole is covered with a transparent glaze, and then fired to reveal a pattern that is permeable to light. In this exhibition, he will present not only works with exquisite designs unique to white porcelain, but also works that focus on the bold aspects of porcelain during the production process.Major exhibitions and (more…)

Nakamura Kohei 中村康平

1948-maleBorn in Kanazawa as the third son of Nakamura Baizan.　Graduated from Tama Art University, Department of Sculpture1989 Yagi Kazuo Prize ’89 Contemporary Ceramic Art Exhibition -Grand Prize　1993 Contracted by Garth Clark Gallery, New York1996 Suntory Museum of Art Grand Prize Special Exhibition ’961999 International Contemporary Ceramic Art Exhibition (Metropolitan Museum)2012 “Kogei Mirai-ha” 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art, Kanazawa2013 “Contemporary Great Bowls Exhibition” (Kikuchi Kanji Memorial Chihiro Museum of Art) (more…)

Nakada Masaru 中田雅巳

1977-malekutani porcelainBorn in Kawakita Town, Nomi County, Ishikawa Prefecture1997 Graduated from Ishikawa Kutaniyaki Technical Training Institute2004 Independently established in Kawakita-cho, Nohmi County2005 Selected, International Ceramics Festival Mino, ’11’14 Ceramics Park MINO, Gifu, Japan2006 Selected, Izushi Porcelain TriennialSelected, Mashiko Ceramic Art Exhibition (’08 Mashiko Ceramic Museum, Ceramic Messe, Mashiko, Tochigi)Kanazawa Wan-One Grand Prize “People, Vessel, Encounter” Exhibition, Excellent Prize (Korinbo Yamato/Ishikawa)2007 Selected, Gyeonggi-do World Ceramic Biennale, KoreaKanazawa City Craft Exhibition, Kanazawa Mayor’s Grand Prize (2009 Meitetsu Mza/Ishikawa)2011 Selected, Kikuchi Biennale (’13’15’17 Encouragement Prize ’19’21 Kikuchi Kanji Memorial Museum/Tokyo)Selected, Japan Ceramic Art Exhibition (’13 Daimaru Tokyo, and other times)Selected for the Choza (more…)

Nakada Hiroshi 中田博士

1979-malekutani porcelainBorn in Komatsu City, Ishikawa Prefecture 2005Grand Prize, Kanazawa City Craft Exhibition 2005Bronze Prize, 7th International Ceramics Exhibition Mino 2005Selected New Artists Exhibition, Kyoto Municipal Museum of Art, Kyoto, Japan 2006Kyoto Prefectural Selected Exhibition of New Artists in Arts and Crafts, The Museum of Kyoto, Kyoto, Japan 2009Newcomer’s Prize, 56th Japan Traditional Crafts Exhibition 2010The 1st Kanazawa World Craft Triennial (21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art, Kanazawa) 2015Special Prize, The 23rd Japan Ceramic Art Exhibition, Prize of The Museum of Ceramic Art, Ibaraki 2016Expression of Method 2016 (Ishikawa Prefectural Government Memorial Shiinoki-Geihinkan) 201611th Paramita Ceramics Grand Prize Exhibition, Mie, (more…)

Nakaigawa Yuki 中井川由季

1960-female　She was born in Ibaraki prefecture and graduated from Tama Art University in 1986. Her exhibitions include “Black & White” (JOAN B MIRVISS LTD, New York, 2014) and “Artist File – Contemporary Artists” (The New Museum, Tokyo, 2011). He received the Special Jury Prize at the Second International Ceramics Exhibition Mino ʼ89 (1990). (more…)

NORITAKE CO., LIMITED ノリタケ

1904-The company was founded in 1904 by Morimura Ichizaemon (1839-1919) as Nihon Toki General Partnership Company. Its predecessor, Nihon Toki, was the first company in Japan to produce high-end Western tableware, which was exported in large quantities to Europe and the United States by the Morimura Group, a pottery and porcelainware trading company, during the Meiji era and before World War II. The early products were handmade and known for the beauty of their painting and the delicacy of their workmanship. Later, tableware based on the Art Deco style was produced in large quantities, and the elaborate designs are still (more…)

Nakajo Masayasu 中條正康

1949-maleBorn in Seto. Into a family business producing semi-porcelain export items. Graduated from the Department of Electrical Communication, Faculty of Engineering, Meiji University. Later became interested in ceramics. He specializes in painting Karatsu style using Mino clay. Has held group exhibitions in Roppongi, Tokyo, and other solo exhibitions. (more…)

Nagae Shizan 長江司山

Late Edo period-Meiji periodsmalekobe-satsuma potteryShizan, whose real name was Nagae Tosaburo.He was born in 1867 in Kanazawa City, Ishikawa Prefecture, to a father, Nagae Juntaro, and a mother, Yori.Although the exact date is not known, he left for Kobe around the middle of the Meiji period (1868-1912), where he worked as a Satsuma-yaki painter.In 1902, he applied for a change of domicile to Kobe.So at least by this time, his business in Kobe must have been on the right track.He produced the best kobe-satsuma in the Nunobiki area of Kobe city. His work was even exhibited at European Expos etc., (more…)

Nakamura Yoshihisa 中村能久

1949-malekyo potteryAfter entering the Kyoto Prefectural Ceramists’ Technical Institute in 1969, he studied Ninsei and Kenzan, and was a prizewiner at the Creative Art Exhibition in 1978. He won at the Kyo-ware and Kiyomizu-ware exhibition the following year. Later still, he continues to win prizes at the Creative Art Exhibition. (more…)

Nakano Geirin 2nd 二代 中野霓林

1918-1966malehagi potterytokoji potteryBorn in Karatsu as the second son of the first generation Nakano Geirin, he inherited his father’s title and succeeded the Nakano kiln that was opened as a kiln under the domain’s authority, but later moved to Hagi looking to the Hadano ‘Sigetu kiln’ of Hagi-ware. He studied under Nosaka Kogetsu, became independent after the war, and opened his own kiln Tokoji-gama, but it was abandoned when he committed suicide at the age of 48. He leaves behind life-sized ceramic statues such as the Daibyaku-gosha (ox-cart) statue at Kokeiden in Nara Todaiji Temple, the Daikannon seated statue at (more…)

Nakano Geirin 1st 初代 中野霓林

1871-1951maleHe learned from Matsushima Yagoro, who opened a kiln that was under the authority of the Hizen Karatsu domain, and succeeded him to take over the Nakano kiln. He specialized in crafts that were rare in Karatsu, and also produced giant statues of 1 m or more etc. He also presented his work to Emperor Meiji. Later, the kiln was inherited by his eldest son, Tochi, and his second son, the 2nd generation Geirin, opened one independently in Hagi. (more…)

Naruse Seishi 成瀬誠志

1845-1923maletokyo-satsuma potteryBorn as the second son to father Shusuke, a carpenter, after training in pottery with Shinohara Riheiji at the age of 13, he opened an independent kiln in 1866 at the age of 21. However, in 1871, he closed the kiln, moved to Tokyo, and settled into a park residence around Shiba, Tokyo, where he worked with several potters to produce works by painting Uwa-e on unglazed pottery sent from Satsuma, which they then did all the processing for, making them the representative potters of ‘Tokyo Satsuma’. In 1866, he returned to Nasubigawa in search of a more serious (more…)

Nakashima Hitoshi 中島均

1937-1981male An older brother of the living national treasure Nakashima Hiroshi. While working for his father at Nakashima Ceramics, he was a prizewinner for the first time at Nitten at the age of 21.He then continued to make pottery, but died due to illness at the age of 43. (more…)

Nakamura Shosen 中村昇仙

1918-?maleiga potteryAfter graduating from the Department of Ispania (Spanish) at Tenri University, he worked as a public school teacher, whilst at the same time devoting himself to the study of ancient pottery focusing mainly on Koiga. Built climbing kilns in 1975, and subsequently built cellar kilns. Also, with the aim of making pottery, he exhibited at creative art exhibitions and various exhibitions open to the public such as the Asahi Ceramics Exhibition, Chunichi International Ceramics Exhibition, Tokai Traditional Crafts Exhibition, and the Contemporary Arts and Crafts Exhibition. He was a repeated prizewinner and received the members’ award at the creative (more…)

Nakamura Kosetsu 中村幸節

1911-?malekyo potteryHe graduated from the Ceramics Department of the Kyoto Municipal Second Institute of Technology in 1929, and studied under the first generation Tetsuka Gyokudo, Sawada Sozan, Kawamura Seizan, and the fifth Kiyomizu Rokubey etc.He was a prizewinner at the Imperial Art Institute Exhibition in 1930, and the Ministry of Education Sponsored Exhibition to Support Temples in 1940. In addition, he also piled up many awards and prizes at other exhibitions including the Ministry of Commerce and Industry Sponsored Craft Exhibition, Kyoto Prefectural Crafts and Art Exhibition, Kyoto City Art Exhibition, All Japan Ceramics Lacquer Exhibition, and the Kansai Art (more…)

Nakamura Shunho 3rd 三代 中村秋峰

1947-malekyo potteryHe received the Kyoto Ceramics Association Chairman’s Award at the Kyoto Uwa-e tea bowl Exhibition in 1966. He exhibited at the contemporary Kyo-ware/Kiyomizu-ware Paris exhibition in 1993, and was certified as a Kiyomizu-ware traditional craftsman in 1994.He specializes in color paintings in the style of Ninsei and Kenzan, and has masterpiece tea bowls that include tea cups, incense burners and water jugs. He is the representative of Nakamura Tosaien. (more…)

Nakata Kingyoku 2nd 二代 仲田錦玉

1945-2015malekutani porcelainBorn as the child of the first generation Nakata Kingyoku, after graduating from high school, he became a pupil of Asami Gorosuke, a master of Kyo-ware in Gojozaka, Kyoto, and learned the basics of pottery. After returning to his hometown, he studied Kutani-ware Uwa-e painting under his father, and moreover, learned each of the techniques of aka-e fine writing from Kitamura Unpei at Daisho-ji Temple, and gold glazing and rich coloring from Yoshizaki Tozan in Kanazawa. He finally created an area of work with his own original blue grain style technique under guidance at the kilns of Hasegawa Sojin (more…)

Nakamura Suiran 2nd 二代 中村翠嵐

1942-maleAfter graduating from high school, he devoted himself to practice under his father, the first generation Nakamura Suiran, and in 1972 he succeeded to the name of 2nd generation Suiran.He participated in the formation of the Seijukai centered around young potters in 1974, and since then, has held group exhibitions at Tokyo Nihonbashi Mitsukoshi every year for eight years until the association ended. He received such prizes as the Kyoto Prefectural Governor’s Award at the 1982 Uwa-e Ceramics Exhibition, the Grand Prize at the Kyo-ware Kiyomizu-ware Exhibition in 1984, and in the same year, the NHK Chairman’s Award at the (more…)

Nakagawa Isaku 中川伊作

1899-2000maleGraduated from Kyoto City University of Arts in 1921.Since then, he has produced works as a printmaker, and in 1931, exhibited his works at the Japan Print Roadshow organized by the Ministry of Education, and displayed his works at such art museums as the Louvre, and those in Madrid, London, and New York.He is also known as a collector of Nanban-ware, and in 1938 he exhibited 100 collections at the Kyoto National Museum, which caught the eye of Yanagi Soetsu, who was promoting folk art, and led to Hamada Shoji and others to visit Okinawa. After returning from the United (more…)