Japanese potters

Kitaoji Rosanjin 北大路魯山人

1883-1959maleoribe potteryBorn in Kitaoji-cho, Kamigamo in Kyoto in 1883 (Meiji 16). Rosanjin’s birth was a result of his mother having an affair and his father, disgusted by this, committed seppuku suicide 4 months before Rosanjin was born. He had a poverty-stricken childhood and was put into foster care as soon as he was born, being passed on to various loveless adoptive households where he suffered abuse until he settled into the Fukuda household at age 6. One day, while running an errand for the place where he worked, he saw the sign for a restaurant in town called ‘Kamemasa’ on (more…)

Miwa Kyusetsu 11th 十一代 三輪休雪

1910-2012malehagi potteryliving national treasureBorn the third son of the Miwa kiln’s ninth generation Kyusetsu (Setsudo) of Hagi ware tradition, Miwa Kyusetsu studied under his father and older brother (the 10th generation Kyusetsu: Kyuwa) after graduating middle school, and also studied under Kawakita Handeishi.After a long period of training, he took on the pottery artist name “Kyu” and displayed his work in 1955. He was chosen for a prize for the first time in the Fourth Japan Traditional Kogei Exhibition in 1957, and he continued to be chosen for prizes from that point onward. In 1960, he was nominated for member (more…)

Miwa Kyusetsu 10th 十代 三輪休雪

1895 – 1981malehagi potteryliving national treasureHe was born as a child of the 9th Miwa Kyusetsu (Setudo) of the Miwa Kiln of the traditional Hagi Pottery. After he had been disciplined and influenced by his father and his grandfather (the 8th Kyusetsu: Setsuzan), he inherited his family business and in 1927 he inherited the professional name as the 10th Kyusetsu.He has worshiped and adored works of generations of Kyusetu, and devoted himself to the research of kaolin. Eventually he combined the Hagi clay and white glaze to complete the unique glaze called “Kyusetsujiro”. He has also added the character of (more…)

Matsui Kosei 松井康成

1927-2003malekasama potteryliving national treasureAfter graduating from university, he was inaugurated as 24th chief priest of the Tsukiso Jodo Temple in Kasama, Ibaraki prefecture in 1957.In 1959, he began restoring the old kiln at the temple’s gate, conducting unique research into ancient pottery from China, Korea and Japan. Further, from 1967 he received training from Tamura Koichi, dedicating himself to the study of Chinese kneading and inlaying techniques in particular. He first exhibited “Renjo te obachi” at the 9th Traditional Kogei Exhibition, receiving an honorable mention award. Thereafter, he amassed displays at every exhibition, and repeatedly amassed various awards such as (more…)

Kuroda Koryo (Otagaki Rengetsu 2nd) 黒田光良 (2代 太田垣連月)

Meiji periodmaleHis exact dates of birth and death, as well as his birthplace, remain unknown, but he learned pottery from Otagaki Rengetsu and ghostwrote for her during her lifetime. But after her death, from around 1878, he primarily produced shrine offering bowls and so on, naming himself Rengetsu II. From around this time he also used “Koryo-san” as his unique pottery seal. (more…)

Koyama Fujio 小山富士夫

1900-1975maleCommittee chairman of the Japan Society of Oriental Ceramic Studies and board chairman of the Japan Kogei Association. After leaving university mid term, he devoted himself to the study of ceramics at Seto and Kyoto, and established himself as a potter in 1925.However, in 1930 he became an Oriental Ceramics Research Institute employee, suspending his pottery work to devote himself to ceramics and porcelain research. In 1941 he served at the Tokyo Imperial Household Museum, joining in with the work of selecting Designated Cultural Properties. After retiring from the museum in 1961, he started to make pottery again from 1964, (more…)

Kondo Yuzo 近藤悠三

1902-1985maleliving national treasureKondo Yuzo was designated a living national treasure and left a remarkable legacy to Japanese ceramics. He was born in 1902 on the very site of this memorial museum, just outside the gate of Kiyomizu Temple. At the age of 12, he entered the training facility of the Ceramics Laboratory to learn to use the potter’s wheel. It was there that he met Kawai Kanjiro and Hamada Shoji.Starting when he was 19, he spent three years as an assistant to Tomimoto Kenkichi in Nara.He established his own studio in the same area when he was 22. There he (more…)

Kiyomizu Rokubey 1st 初代 清水六兵衛

1738-1799malekyo potteryAs a child, he went to Kyoto to learn pottery making from a Kyoto potter, Ebihara Kiyobei, and opened his own kiln near Kenninji Temple on Gojozaka.He became a frequent guest at the Myohoin Palace, where he produced Oniwa-ware, and also befriended leading literati and painters of the time, such as Ueda Akinari, Tanomura Chikuden, Maruyama Okyo, and Matsumura Goshun, with whom he collaborated on some of his works. He often produced tea ceremony utensils, such as black raku bowls from the Myohoin Palace garden, as well as sencha ware, which was popular at the time. (more…)

Kawakita Handeishi 川喜田半泥子

1878-1963maleA wealthy cotton merchant from Ise born to the Kawakita Kyudaku household, he was separated from his parents and became the head of the family at around 1. He took the name of Kyudaku the 16th, and received training in Zen and so on from his grandmother (what is currently called “emperor studies”). After graduating from Waseda University, he took on his father’s occupation, also working as a Hyakugo Bank board member in 1903 before becoming Hyakugo’s president in 1919, and its chairman in 1945. He also served as a member of the Mie prefectural assembly.During this time he also (more…)

Kawai Takekazu 河井武一

1908-1989maleTakekazu began studying pottery making under Kawai Kanjiro, his uncle, in 1927, and received his guidance over the course of the nearly 40 years until Kanjiro’s death. He inherited mingei techniques such as gosu porcelain, cinnabar lacquerware, and ameyu and kakiyu glazes from his uncle.During this period, he worked as an assistant to Bernard Leach, who was visiting the Kanetani kiln (Kanjiro’s workshop) in 1935, and sought guidance at his side. In 1964 he traveled to Australia and New Zealand, holding one man exhibitions and classes in Sydney, Melbourne and Wellington. A three man exhibition along with Kanjiro and Kanjiro’s (more…)

Kawai Kanjiro 河井寛次郎

1890-1966maleAfter graduating from Tokyo Higher Polytechnical School, Kawai worked and studied at the Kyoto Research Institute for Ceramics. In 1920, he built his own independent kiln in Gojozaka (inherited from Kiyomizu Rokubey V), and married Tsune Kawai (née Mikami Yasu) the same year.His first ceramics exhibition was held the following year at Tokyo’s Takashimaya Department Store. From the beginning, he studied ancient Chinese and Korean ceramics, and was highly praised for developing pieces with ever more unique molds, but he held doubts about his style, and temporarily ceased to make pottery. It was around this time he was introduced to (more…)

Kato Usuke 加藤宇助

1915-1981maleseto potteryKato Usuke, a potter of Seto and Akazu ware, was born in 1915 as the son of Usaburo the 20th. With his ancestor being the second son of the father of Seto ware, Kato Kagemasa Second Generation Toshiro Motomichi, Fuji Saemon as the first generation, he takes his name Usuke from the 17th Generation Keitoku Jinzo. His teaware products include koseto, setoguro, shino, and oribe among others, and there are many excellent products that could easily fit in with ancient works. Usuke’s works are engraved with his signature, “う(U)”. He has held solo exhibitions in various parts of Japan, (more…)

Kato Tokuro 加藤唐九郎

1896-1985malemino potteryKato Tokuro was born the eldest son of Seto potter Kano Sojiro, and as a child displayed a talent for painting in the Nanga style, for composing Chinese poetry, as well as for ceramics, which he practiced under his father. In 1914, he was granted partial rights to his father’s round kiln, marking the start of his own kiln construction and ceramics.In 1918, he married Kato Kinu and took the family name Kato.He devoted himself to surveying the old Seto kilns and researching traditional Seto techniques, allowing him to reproduce Shino and Oribe ware. In 1929, he founded the (more…)

Shimizu Onko 清水温古

Late Edo Period – ?He received the Flower Crest Award in 1877 at the First Annual National Exhibition, establishing his name. In addition, the following year he exhibited ceramic kyusu teapots at the Paris Expo, winning him a bronze medal. He exhibited at the Second Annual National Exhibition. (more…)

Shimizu Shosen 1st 初代 清水尚泉

1910-?malekyo potteryStudied under Miyashita Zenji following the war. He established a Shosen kiln near Sennyuji Temple and created tea wares and vases. Afterwards, he moved the kiln to a Shimizu ware complex and mainly produced practical ceramics. His son, Shimizu Akira, trained under the first generation after graduating from Kyoto Municipal Industrial Research Institute, and currently continues to present under the first generation, continuing the second generation. (more…)

Shibata Nyoami 柴田如阿弥

Meiji Period – Taisho Periodmalekyo potteryHe did dye-work in Gojozaka, Kyoto from the Meiji Period to the Taisho Period, making teacups based on gosu akae. However, details of his works are not well known. He has direct apprentices, such as Sho Nyoami. (more…)

Shimizu Suigetsu 清水酔月

malebanko potteryFirst generation (1872-1972)real name was Kozaburo.He worked as a postmaster, but after he left the post, he engaged in pottery making by making wooden Banko ware by wooden mold. The 2nd generation (1901 – 1990)Real name was Gen.He inherited the pottery from the first generation and was recognized as an intangible cultural asset in 1973, and received the Yokkaichi Cultural Merit Award in 1957. (more…)

Shima Kahei 2nd 二代 島荷平

1935-?maleraku potteryAfter graduating from the Ceramics Department of Kyoto Municipal Fushimi High School, he joined Fukuda Shosai Pottery Garden and studied ceramics.In 1972, with the passing of his father, he took the name Kahei II. He held a succession exhibition at the Kyoto Store of Maruzen Main Store, and since then was active in mainly ceramics exhibitions and solo exhibitions at Mitsukoshi Main Branch, Takashimaya Kyoto Store, Ogura Tamaya, Maruzen Main Branch, and others. He is deeply trusted by the Mushanokojichi family.Kaei III passed suddenly at the age of 54. Currently, his grandson Shizuka and his friend Tanaka Saki maintain (more…)

Shima Kahei 1st 初代 島荷平

1896-1972maleraku potteryryoanji potteryHe first studied Raku ware under Kikko Shogetsu, the 5th generation potter in Hirakata (Hirakata City, Osaka Prefecture). He built a kiln in Fushimi Inari, Kyoto, becoming independent. In addition, he moved the kiln to Daigo and took the name Daigo-yo Kahei.His main works consisted of tea wares, and he left behind gentle works such as Raku ware bowls, pitchers, and incense holders. He also engaged in the creation of Ryoanji ware at the recommendation of Ryoanji’s 58th Matsukura Shoei. (more…)