Japanese potters

Nobuhara Katsushi 延原勝志

1961-malebizen potteryBorn in Ibe, Bizen City1981 Graduated from Saga Art College (now Saga University of Arts), Department of CeramicsStudied under Kondo Jun, second son of Kondo Yuzo.1985 Returned to his hometown and studied under Yoshimoto Shuho1987 Became independent and opened his first kiln1989 Became a member of the Bizen Pottery Society and the Chugoku Branch of the Japan Craftsmen’s Association2000 Selected for the International Exchange Program at Tsinghua University, China2007 Special Lecture at Myongji University, Korea2011 Designated as a traditional Bizen ware craftsman by the national government2012 Special Prize, Okayama Prefectural Exhibition (and many other awards) (more…)

Nanba Motomu 難波需

1956-malebizen potteryBorn as the eldest son of Nanba Akira1979 Polished his pottery skills at the kiln Shunko-en1995 Became independent (more…)

Nanba Kazuo 難波和夫

1972-malebizen potteryBorn as the third son of Namba Masami in Ibe, Bizen City1996 Graduated from the Ceramic Art Center1996 Graduated from the Ceramic Art Center of Bizen City2006 Became independent after 10 years of making ceramics. (more…)

Toyoda Yoshiyuki 豊田賢潔

1972-malebizen potteryStarted making ceramics as a child.Trained at a kiln in Ibe, Japan, and worked as a potter’s assistant, aiming to become an independent potter.2005 Entered Bizen Ceramic Art Center.2006 Finished the course at the Bizen Ceramic Art Center.Studied under artist Isezaki Shin.2009 Became independent and started building a kiln.2010 Completed the kiln.2012 First firing. Firing every year since then.2015 Selected for the Okayama Prefecture Art Exhibition (more…)

Tomori Yukio 友利幸夫

1965-malebizen potteryBorn in Miyako Island, Okinawa.1984 Started his career as a ceramic artist at Tsubayama Tobo (Ogimi Village, Okinawa).1987 Studied under Bizen ware artist Sueishi Taisetsu for 4 years.1999 Built his first kiln.Held solo exhibitions in Tokyo, Fukushima, Chiba, Osaka, Ehime, and Miyakojima. (more…)

Takezaki Noriyasu 竹崎典泰

1968-malebizen potteryBorn in Bizen City, Okayama Prefecture1988 Graduated from Saga Art College (now Kyoto Saga University of Arts), Department of Ceramics1995 Completed the training course for ceramic technicians in Okayama Prefecture1998 Became independent2003 First solo exhibition at Kurashiki Chuo Gallery2010 Participated in Setouchi International Art Festival, Inujima Noyaki Pottery2010 Bizen Toushinkai Exhibition, Awarded Okayama Prefecture Governor’s Prize2013 Participated in Setouchi International Art Festival, Inujima Rakucha2015 Okayama Tenmaya Art Gallery, Solo Exhibition2015 Awarded the Renes Hall Prize at the Bizen Toushinkai Exhibition (more…)

Takagi Jun 高木純

1982-maleBorn in Yokohama, Kanagawa Prefecture2006 Entered Kyoto Traditional Crafts College, Ceramics Course2008 Graduated from Kyoto Traditional Crafts College, Ceramics CourseStudied under traditional craftsman Inomata Masaaki.2013 Purchased a kilnStarted his career as an artist. (more…)

Suzuki Miki 鈴木美基

1970-malebizen potteryBorn in Ibe, Bizen City, the eldest son of Suzuki Koichi, a traditional craftsman.1989 Completed Kyoto Prefectural College of Advanced Technology for Ceramic Art1989 Apprenticed to Kyoto ceramic artist Akira Okamoto1992 Completed Kyoto Municipal Industrial Research Institute1996 Returned to Okayama to study under his father, Suzuki KoichiPublic CollectionWorcester Art Museum, USAWorcester Art Museum, USASelected, Kyoto City Art ExhibitionIssuikai Prize, Issuikai Exhibition, Kyoto, JapanTanabe Art Museum Grand Prize, “Formative Exhibition of Tea Ceremony”, Encouragement PrizeOkayama Prefectural Exhibition, Okayama Mayor PrizeCeramic Biennale Exhibition, Jury’s Individual PrizeChugoku Branch Exhibition of Japan Traditional Crafts, Okayama City Mayor Prize (more…)

Sugagata Motomichi 菅形基道

1974-malebizen potteryGraduated from Okayama University of Commerce1979 Trained at the kiln of Kimura-Tokeido1987 Became independent and established Tenchi Kiln for the first time1989 First solo exhibition at Matsuzakaya, Ginza, Tokyo (22 times since then)1996 Instructed pottery classes at the Ako Community Center2005 Succeeded in firing only with wild cherry trees2006 Succeeded in firing only with cedar wood2011 Certified as a traditional craftsman2012 Qualified as a professor of Kusaka and Usukumo Gosho styles2013 Solo exhibition at Okayama Tenmanya (more…)

John Thomas Wells

1957-malebizen potteryBorn in Measley, USA1975 Enrolls in Occidental College, Los Angeles1977 Enrolled at Waseda University as an exchange student1979 Graduates from Occidental College, majoring in Fine ArtsMakes ceramics in Los Angeles　1982 Studied under Bizen ware artist Kaneshige　Michiaki1985 Built a kiln in Kusai, Bizen City　2003 Selected for the Issuikai Exhibition2004 Selected for the Tabe Museum of Art “Chanoyu no Zokei ExhibitionVisited Jingdezhen as a member of the Okayama Prefecture Cultural Exchange Mission to China2005 Selected for the 18th Japan Ceramic Art ExhibitionSolo exhibition at Tenmaya Okayama Store, Okayama, JapanSelected for Issuikai Exhibition2006 Selected for the Tabe Museum of Art, “Formative Exhibition (more…)

Shima Daisuke 嶋大祐

1979-malebizen potteryBorn in Bizen City2000 Graduated from Bizen Ceramic Art Center2001 Trained in Shigaraki2002 Studied under his father, Shima Yukihiro (Bizen Pottery Traditional Craftsman)2004 Bizen Ikuto-kai Group Exhibition, Tokyo2005 Bizen Ikuto-kai Group Exhibition, Hiroshima2010 Kurosaki Kajiki Gallery, Kitakyushu, Japan2012 Kyoto Miyako Messe Small Group Exhibition2016 Exhibition of ceramics at Santa Gallery, Okayama (more…)

Shibaoka Hirokazu 柴岡宏和

1978-malebizen potteryBorn as the eldest son of Bizen Pottery artist Shibaoka Shusen2001 Graduated from Kyushu Tokai UniversityGraduated from Okayama Prefectural Industrial Technology Bizen Pottery Center in 2002Began making pottery under the guidance of his father Shusen.2005 Selected for the 56th Okayama Prefectural Art ExhibitionSelected, 57th Okayama Prefectural Art Exhibition, 2006 Selected, Issuikai Ceramic Art Exhibition2009 Selected, Issuikai Ceramic Art Exhibition2010 Selected, 25th National Cultural Festival Okayama Ceramic Art ExhibitionSelected, The 54th Japan Traditional Crafts Chugoku Branch Exhibition, 2011Selected, 62nd Okayama Prefecture Art Exhibition, Okayama, Japan (more…)

Sakakibara Keishi 榊原啓司

1959-malebizen pottery1978 Studied under Isezaki Jun1989 Graduated from Bizen Ceramic Art Center and became independent1992 Selected for Okayama Prefectural ExhibitionSelected, East Chugoku Branch Exhibition1997 Selected, Yakishime Pottery Exhibition1998 Selected, Japan Traditional Crafts Exhibition1999 Selected, Ceramic Biennale, Japan2001 Selected, Chanoyu no Zokei ExhibitionOkayama Prefecture Governor’s Prize, Toushinkai Exhibition, Okayama, Japan.Selected, Japan Traditional Crafts Exhibition, Japan (more…)

Sakai Ryohei 坂井良平

1964-malebizen potteryBorn in Toyoake City, Aichi Prefecture1982 Studied ceramics at Seto Ceramic Technical College, Aichi, Japan1983 Joined Kimura Tojoen in Ibe, Bizen City1987 Studied ceramic sculpture under Kimura Gyokusyu　1989 Awarded a prize in the sculpture section of the Okayama Prefectural Exhibition1998 Became independent and opened his own kiln in Akaiwa City.Since then, held solo exhibitions in Okayama, Kurashiki, and Tsuyama. (more…)

Koyama Shingo 小山真吾

?-malebizen pottery2007 Otaki Hokkaido Ceramic Art Exhibition, Gold Prize2008 Chairman of Date City Council Prize, Ohtaki Hokkaido Ceramic Art ExhibitionSelected, Otaki Hokkaido Ceramic Art Exhibition, twice.2008 Selected, National Traditional Crafts Exhibition1997 Solo exhibition at Isetan Urawa, Saitama2001 Solo Exhibition at Arts and Crafts Salon Midori, Izumo, Japan2002 Solo exhibition at Bizen Pottery Gallery Aoyama, Tokyo (7 times since 2002)2005 Solo Exhibition at Tenmaya Department Store, Okayama2015 Solo exhibition at Takashimaya Department Store, Okayama. (more…)

Koyama Gessen 小山月泉

1959-malebizen potteryBorn in Tokyo1982 Studied under Fujiwara Rakuzan 2nd and 3rd1988 Awarded the title of “Gessen”1993 Became independent1997 Opened his first kiln in Kugui, Bizen City (more…)

Kobayashi Shuji 小林秀二

1950-malebizen potteryBorn in Okayama Prefecture1973 Entered Bizen Ceramic Art CenterAfter completing the course at the center, worked at Mashiko Pottery in Tochigi Prefecture.Tochigi Prefecture.Built a kiln near the Kanku Kiln in Ushimado1996 Became independentSelected for the Japan Traditional Crafts Exhibition, Okayama Prefecture Art Exhibition, etc. (more…)

Kobashi Toshimitsu 小橋俊允

1977-malebizen potteryBorn in Ibe, Bizen City1996 Major in Ceramics at Kansai College of Art and Design2000 Studied at Bizen Ceramic Art Center2001 Started working at Yumegenan Bizen Pottery Studio2006 First kiln opened (more…)

Kosai 光彩

1971-Born in Oita Prefecture, JapanGraduated from Fukuoka University, Faculty of Science, Department of Applied Mathematics.Employed as a mathematics instructor at a major cram school in Kyushu2001 Studied pottery at Bizen Ceramic Art Center for 2 years2003 Apprenticed under Idei Naofumi for 4 years2009 Built his own anagama kiln in Ushimado (more…)

Kuninobu Noboru 國延昇

1947-malebizen potteryBorn in Isinaka, Bizen City, Okayama Prefecture1981 Built a climbing kiln 500 meters south of his home1991 Selected for the 1st Yakishime Pottery Competition1994 Selected, Tabe Museum of Art, Chanoyu Art Exhibition1981 Built a climbing kiln 500 meters south of his home.1991 Selected for the 1st Yakishime Pottery Competition.1994 Selected for the Tabe Museum of Art Chanoyu Art Exhibition.1995 Produced a ceramic statue of Ikumoto Minoru, Chairman of Minoru Industries Co.1996 Selected for the 13th Fugaku Biennale Exhibition.2003 Donated a seated statue of Tsuda Nagatada to the Tsuda Nagatada Commemorative Association.2005 Produced a seated statue of Tsuda Nagatada at (more…)