Japanese potters

Takayama Taizo 高山泰造

1899-1985maleAfter studying at the painting department of Kyoto Municipal Art School, then at the ceramics department of Kuramae High School, he went to England to study scientific wares. While in England, he became close friends with Bernard Leach and Hamada Shoji, and upon returning to Japan he joined the Takayama Kozan Science and Pottery Research Institute. In 1937, he participated in the formation of the Japan Ceramic Sculpture Association alongside Numata Ichiga and others. (more…)

Daimaru Hokuho 1st 初代 大丸北峰

1879-1959malekyo potteryBorn in Daishoji, Kaga City, Ishikawa Prefecture.Also known as Heian Hokuho. He received training in ceramic painting from Okura Seishichi at the Kutani Pottery Company, later moving to Kyoto in 1899 to study under Kitayama Sekisen.In 1906, he was invited to teach at Hunan Ceramics School in Hunan Province, China, thereafter devoting himself to the study of Chinese ceramics.He returned to Japan in 1909. He returned to Kyoto and created ceramics focused mainly on chinaware matcha and tea utensils.He has displayed his work at many exhibitions, winning gold and silver awards at most of them. He became a contract (more…)

Takifuji Manjiro 瀧藤萬次郎

1847-1922maleAround 1868, he invited around a dozen Ishikawa Prefecture Kutani ware painters to Nagoya to create Nagoya kinrande (gold-plated porcelains).He produced tableware and vases for overseas export. (more…)

Takiguchi Kazen 1st 初代 滝口加全

1872-1940kyo potteryTrained under Eiraki Wazen, who came to revive Kutani ware, in 1890. In 1897,moved to Gojozaka, Kyoto and became independent.Afterwards, returned home and began involvement with the Yamanaka Onsen Eiju Kiln (Yaguchi Eiju) and the Daishoji Shuto Kiln (Nakamura Shuto), opening his own kiln in Daishoji in 1920.Their specialty was eirakute, and they was also skilled in creating wares in the style of cochin ware, reproduction of kenzan, reproduction of ninsei, european style, and red painting. (more…)

Takatori Buhei 高取武平

1830-1907maletakatori potteryThe 9th generation of the Fukuoka Clan kiln and the Kamei family of the Takatori ware Sarayama Kiln, which was founded by the Korean potter Hachizan.In this era, he moved away from the clan’s kiln and began making pottery, mainly tea wares and other miscellaneous wares. (more…)

Tayasu Genmoku 田安玄黙

1828-1876maleBorn as the fifth child of Tayasu Narimasa of the Tokugawa Shogunate Clan Tayasu House.In 1839, he inherited the Owari House from his older brother Naritaka. At the age of 12, he was appointed as the fourth generation reign of the Tayasu family, becoming chief councilor of state. In 1858, he acted as the guardian of Tokugawa Iemochi, but was dismissed in 1862 due to the Sakashita Gate Incident. The following year, he was demoted to medium-ranked councilor and went into hiding.He is proficient in tanka poetry and tea ceremony, and learned tea ceremony under the Urasenke School’s 11th generation (more…)

Takano Shoami 2nd 二代 高野昭阿弥

1941-malekyo potteryWith Shoami I as his father, he was involved in the family pottery business since graduating college. Since then, he partook in a number of apprenticeships and created works under the name Takano Shinjiro. In 1980, together with Shoami I, he held a 50th anniversary exhibition of the kiln.Afterwards, he inherited the name Shoami II in 1993 and since then exhibited his works mainly at solo exhibitions. (more…)

Takano Shoami 1st 初代 高野昭阿弥

1905-?After training under Gojozaka, Kyoto potter Shibata Nyoami, he received the pen name Shoami from his teacher around 1930 and opened a kiln in Imakumano, becoming independent.Since then, he has produced teacups and matcha wares, centering on shozui and akae styles, as well as dyeing. (more…)

Takatori Hachizan 13th 十三代 高取八山

1960-maletakatori potteryBorn as the eldest son of Hachizan XII, he studied under his father and had been working in the family business since graduating college. In addition, for one year from 1993, he trained under the Daitokuji Temple Hirotokuzenji Chief Priest Fukutomi Settei and Fukutomi Kaiun.Upon returning to the kiln, he studied pieces of pottery from the abandoned kiln’s ruins and began taking pottery making seriously. In 1998, he was given the pen name Muichian by the Enshu Tea Ceremony School Head Kobori Sokei. In 1999 he inherited the name of the 13th generational head of the Takatori ware family. (more…)

Takatori Seizan 高取静山

1907-1983femaletakatori potteryAs known as Takatori Hachizan 11th. Born as the eldest daughter of Takatori X, head of the Takatori ware family. While she was living in Tokyo, she and her father began the revival of the Takatori Kiln (the kiln was discontinued in its 9th generation with the abolition of feudal domains).After her father’s passing, she opened her first kiln in 1958 and held her first solo exhibition at the Mitsukoshi Main Store in 1961. Through this opportunity, she was given the pen name Seizan by Muneaki, the 11th generation head of the Enshu school. Since then, under the name (more…)

Tatebayashi Korin’an 2nd 二代 舘林古琳庵

1947-malearita porcelainHis real name is Hirohisa. Born as the eldest son of Tatebayashi Korinan, who worked for many years as a highly-skilled potter at the Kakiemon kiln and contributed to the training of young artists. After completing training at a kiln near Arita, he and his father built the Tatebayashi Korinan Kiln in 1979 and he produced wares under his father’s guidance.His work is highly regarded and has been presented as gifts to important persons of various nations, including Present Bush and the Royal Family of Monaco. In 2017, on the occasion of the 400th anniversary of the founding of (more…)

Tatebayashi Korin’an 1st 初代 舘林古琳庵

1908-1994malearita porcelainHis real name is Sadao. Born in Arita, Saga Prefecture, known for its Imari ware pottery, he was engaged in pottery making from childhood. From the age of 21, he studied under Kakiemon XII and Kakiemon XIII, of the famous Imari ware akae Kakiemon kiln. In addition, he worked as a painter and potter for roughly 50 years, and during this time put efforts toward training younger artists. He was awarded the Modern Japanese Master Craftsman Outstanding Skills Award in 1974, and received the Medal with Yellow Ribbon in 1975.In 1978, he retired from the Kakiemon kiln at the (more…)

Takahashi Koji 高橋幸治

1962-maleHe began his pottery training in 1982, studying Mashiko ware under Kawahara Kenyu. Then, starting in 1986, he studied Okinawan Tsuboya ware under Shimabukuro Tsunehide. In addition, he has experience making Tsuboya ware pottery at the Living National Treasure Kinjo Jiro’s kiln. In 1988, he was granted permission to exhibit his works for the first time at the Kinjo Jiro Kiln Exhibition.Afterwards, he returned home and built a kiln in Ogaki-cho, Matsue City in 1990, becoming independent.Since then, he has exhibited his works at solo exhibitions mainly in Tokyo, Tottori, and Naha.He develops creative pottery based on the folk art (more…)

Takayama Ko 高山光

1943-maleAspiring to be a potter, in 1961 he became an apprentice to Kondo Yuzo at 18 years old, beginning his training. In addition, he began receiving guidance from Kamoda Shoji in 1966, receiving his first award at the Japan Traditional Crafts Exhibition in 1967 (he was selected 3 concurrent times thereafter). In 1972, he was nominated as a regular member of the Japan Industrial Arts Association. However, after exhibiting at the Asahi Ceramics Exhibition that year, he stopped presenting his works at any public exhibitions, including even the Japan Traditional Crafts Exhibition. Since his first solo exhibition in 1974 at (more…)

Tamura Ryoichi 田村了一

1946-2005maleBorn the eldest son to Tamura Koichi, an iron painting Living National Treasure. He aspired to work in sculpture, exhibiting at the Nika Exhibition Sculpture Club while still in school, winning the Nika Award in 1970. He continued exhibiting his works after graduating from graduate school. He was nominated as a member in 1979 and received the Membership Effort Award in 1995.Meanwhile, following his father’s passing, he began producing ceramic works. He continues actively presenting his works alongside his sculptures at department stores and galleries in various locations. He received the Tochigi Prefecture Art Honorable Mention in 1987. (more…)

Takegoshi Zenpei 武腰善平

1843-1907malekutani porcelainKutani ware potter. From the age of 13, he trained at the Kutani ware kiln of the prestigious Iidaya Hachiroemon. Afterwards, following his sister’s marriage to Kutani Shoza, he studied under Shoza for 12 years. Following Shoza’s passing, he became a master of finely-painted colored gold leaf, creating wares and vases with motifs of people, flowers, and birds. Through instances such as his exhibiting a large plate with delicate, extra-fine line drawings at the 3rd Paris Exposition, he earned a reputation that surpassed that of his teacher. (more…)

Tanzan Rikuro 丹山陸郎

1852-1897maleBorn as the second son to Awataguchi, Kyoto potter Tanzan Ome, he began working in the family business from childhood and took over the family headship from his older brother when he was around 14 years old.When the new Meiji government announced that it would be officially participating in the Vienna World’s Fair, he took apprenticeship with Wagner in order to learn how to produce work for other countries, and he also participated in the World’s Fair as a trainee. At that time, he brought back plaster technique, liquid gold pigments, and glaze methods, using them to research products for (more…)

Takeda Aritsune 竹田有恒

1888-1976malekutani porcelainA Kutani ware potter of the Shichihira Kiln. In 1961, he was the first potter in Japan to create the technique of translucent “overglaze gold leaf,” which overlays a thin layer of glaze over top gold leaf decoration. Currently, the Kutani ware artist Yoshita Minori is certified as a Living National Treasure for his use of this technique. (more…)

Raku Atsundo (Raku Kichizaemon 16th) 楽篤人 (十六代 楽吉左衛門)

1981-maleraku potteryHe was born in 1981 as the eldest son of the 15th Kichizaemon. His name is Atsundo.He graduated from the department of sculpture of Tokyo Zokei University. After studying in London, he returned to Japan and started working with Raku family.Last year, twelve tea bowls, Aka-raku bowls and Kuro-raku bowls, were exhibited at the “Universe in a Tea Bowl” exhibition held at the County Museum of Art, Los Angeles, the Hermitage Museum, St. Petersburg, and the Pushkin Museum, Moscow, prior to their presentation in Japan. This exhibition will be Atsuto’s first presentation of his work in Japan. He also (more…)

Raku Kichizaemon 15th Jikinyu 十五代 楽吉左衛門 直入

1949-maleraku potteruJikinyu, was born as Kakunyu’s eldest son of the 14th generation of the Raku family. His childhood name was Mitsuhiro, and he later took the name Sokichi.After graduating from the sculpture department of Tokyo University of Arts in 1973, he went to Italy to study at the Accademia di Roma. During his stay in Rome, he learned the art of tea ceremony from Nojiri Tomoko. He returned to Japan from Italy in 1976 and his father, Kakunyu, died four years later. The next year, Jikinyu was given the title ‘Kichizaemon the 15th’. His first solo exhibition commemorated the title (more…)