Japanese potters

Nakamura Donen 2nd 二代 中村道年

1906-1972maleraku potteryBorn January 7th. While studying under his father, he trained in the tea ceremony under the instruction of the tea master Yoshida Josei. In the year Showa 12, he was named successor to his father following his father’s death. However, he discontinued his business in the year Showa 18 due to the war and, after training in the tea ceremony once again at Omotesenke, was given the name Yagotokama by the tea master Sokuchusai and began making pottery in the Raku style. He trained under the instruction of Morikawa Nyoshun’an and in the year Showa 40, he won a (more…)

Nakamura Donen 1st 初代 中村道年

1876-1937maleraku potteryOriginally, he studied pottery under the 4th generation Dohachi in Kyoto, but he visited and trained in various regions throughout the country as well as Korea and China. Afterwards, he came to Nagoya due to an invitation from Takamatsu Sadaichi, a wealthy merchant there, and he began to create pottery in the same area. He often produced Raku ware and Joseon style tea pottery. He passed away due to illness at 62 years of age.Around the time of the second generation, Sokuchusai Sosa of the Omotesenke school, gave the name, Yagoto kiln. The fifth generation is currently active. (more…)

Murata Gen 村田元

1904-1988malemashiko potteryBorn in 1904 in Kanazawa City, Ishikawa Prefecture. Although originally an aspiring painter, he could not make a living as a painter, thus he came to Mashiko to rely on the renowned Shouji Hamada immediately after the war. He began training as a pupil to practice his ceramic skills in 1944, rose up to a place in Mashiko called Kitagoya, built a furnace and became independent in 1954. Murata transported his completed pottery on his bicycle-towed trailer to the streets of Mashiko for sale, but his life was so difficult that his wife devoted herself to support the family. (more…)

Kato Shuntai 加藤春岱

1802-1877maleseto potteryKato Shuntai was a potter from Seto Akatsu village during the end of Tokugawa Shogunate period. Born in a potter family in Seto, the family was one of the three Okamaya families, the Nihei family. His talent blossomed early on and at the age of 15, he succeeded the work of his father, Kagenori (Shunzan), and became a member of Okamaya. Okamaya is the name of their pottery business. Okamaya was established as a kind of reconstruction policy of the Seto area, which was carried out by the first lord of the Owari clan, Tokugawa Yoshinao. With the influence (more…)

Kato Sekishun 加藤石春

1870-1943maleraku potteryHe was born in Seto, the son of a potter, Kato Hozaburo, and worked in the family business from an early age, assisting his father in the production of pottery. At the age of 15, he went to Kyoto to study pottery making.After returning to Seto, he taught pottery techniques at a pottery school, and also started making pottery himself.After opening a kiln for Nagono-yaki ware in 1914, he constructed the Kasumori Kiln, producing raku ware with a distinctive glaze known as “Tatsuta-nishiki”. He died in 1943.A favorite of Itagaki Taisuke (famous as a leader of Movement for Liberty (more…)

Kato Hajime 加藤土師萌

1900-1968maleliving national treasureFirst studied design etc., under pottery art designer Hino Atsushi, afterwards working at Gifu Prefectural Ceramics Research Institute and starting to create pottery on the side in 1926. In 1927, he was selected for a prize for the first time in the eighth Exhibition of the Imperial Fine Arts Academy in the fourth category, the Industrial Art Category, which was newly established in the same year. Since then, he continued to exhibit his works, and took on the name “Hajime” from 1930.Additionally, he received the Grand Prize at the Paris International Exposition in 1937, and in 1940, he (more…)

Ito Tadatsugu 伊藤忠次

1935-maleStudied ceramics at the West Japan Ceramic Club and started Annoki kiln in Fukuyama in 1977. Was mainly active in the Kofukai and Nitten Exhibition since then. (more…)

Iwata Suzukichi 岩田錫吉

Late Edo Period-maleA ceramic painter from Nagoya who took charge of painting the pottery exhibited by the Aichi Prefectural Government at the 1st National Industrial Exhibition. (more…)

Ikenishi Tsuyoshi 池西剛

1961-maleResearched the appeal of ancient kilns in Korea, China, and Japan through independent study and was influenced by Abe Anjin. Started a 5-chambered climbing kiln in Imabari, Ehime at the age of 33. Created Ido ware, Karatsu ware, and Kizeto ware.Has held private exhibitions at Gallery Aoyama every year since 2005 and is receiving attention as a potter with high hopes for future activities. (more…)

Iriyama Kainosuke 圦山開之助

Late Edo Period-Meiji EramaleStudied Kyo ware as a youth and started making ceramics in Seta, Omi and Takasu, Mino. Started making copies of Kiyomizu ware in Kuwana in 1845. Moved to Yotsuya, Yokkaichi in 1859 to create Banko ware using a potter’s wheel or a mold in his main kiln and non-main kiln. His works were exhibited at the 1st and 2nd National Industrial Exhibition, and records remain that he received a Certificate of Merit. www.bunka.pref.mie.lg.jp三重県総合博物館/資料詳細/草花文急須 杁山開之助 (more…)

Isezaki Koichiro 伊勢崎晃一朗

1974-malebizen potteryBorn as the 1st son of Isezaki Jun, the living national treasure from Bizen. Graduated from the Faculty of Sculpting at Tokyo Zokei University in 1996. Traveled to the United States in 1998 and studied under the potter Jeff Shapiro in New York. Studied under his father after returning to Japan.Selected for the first time for the Modern Tea Forms Exhibition hosted by Tanabe Museum of Art in 2003. Held a private exhibition in Kuroda Gallery in Ginza the following year. Then received the Okayama Broadcasting Award at the Japan Traditional Craft Art Chugoku Branch Exhibition. (more…)

Ito Shoho 2nd 二代 伊藤昇峰

1959-kyo potteryFrom the Shoho kiln. The 2nd generation studied under the 1st generation Shoho in Kiyomizu, Kyoto and succeeded the kiln in 1989. Then was selected for the Kyoto Traditional Industrial Technician Exhibition. Held a private exhibition in Paris in 1994. Won the Kyoto Mayor’s Award at the Seiyokai Exhibition in 2009. Works focus on porcelain. (more…)

Inoue Togen 井上陶源

Late Edo Period-maledaishoji imariProduced Daishoji Imari ware, which had the purpose of mass-producing Kutani ware, from the Meiji to Showa eras. Started Inoue Shoten, which was central to its production and distribution, in 1877. Asked the masters Takenouchi Ginshu and Asai Ichigo to paint the works and spiritedly engaged in commerce, with a focus on the Keihanshin region.Currently the latest generation produces works at Daishoji. He gives historic Kutani ware, such as aode, red paintings, and gold glaze, a modern style and is popular among Kaiseki restaurants also. (more…)

Ishida Heizo 石田平蔵

1844-1892makekutani porcelainStudied under his adoptive father Kitaichiya Heikichi and made Aode-Kutani ware. Created a business organization with Matsumoto Sahei and others in 1882. Exhibited a deep Aode Kutani pot at the Textile, Ceramic, and Japanese Lacquer Promotion Society and won the 5th Place and Honorable Mention Awards. Exhibited a flower vase at the National Industrial Exhibition in 1890. (more…)

Inoue Ennen 井上延年

1842-1914maleA potter from Seto in the Meiji era and the father of the 3rd generation Shofu Kajo. A master of the potter’s wheel who even conducted a potter’s wheel demonstration during the Aichi Expo in 1874. Presented a method of preparing pure Dehua porcelain together with the 6th generation Kawamoto Hansuke to the Department of Agriculture. Created copies of Chinese zaffre glazes as tea sets and left masterpieces. Was also invited as a model artisan by the present-day Faculty of Ceramics at Tokyo Institute of Technology in 1900. (more…)

Ishiguro Koko 石黒香々

Early Meiji Eramalesumida potteryWorked as a potter under the 1st generation Inoue Ryosai of Sumida ware. Later became independent in Kameido, Tokyo with Koko ware.Exhibited at the National Ceramic Industry Promotion Society in 1901. Exhibited the 500 Arhats at St. Louis Expo in 1904. (more…)

Ikuta Kazutaka 生田和孝

1927-1982maletamba potterySought to be a potter in 1947 and received instruction from Kawai Takekazu from Fujihira kiln in Kyoto. Also apprenticed under Kawai Kanjiro in 1951 and studied folk ceramic crafts. Returned home temporarily in 1955 but moved to Konda, Hyogo the following year to study Tamba ware techniques under Ichino Toshio. Started a Tamba-style climbing kiln in 1959.Later established a style by adding folk craft arrangements to the base of Tamba ware. Stood out for use of Nuka-yu glaze and Ame-yu glaze with warm colors.Main awards received include the Minister of Education’s Award at the Japan Ceramic Exhibition for (more…)

Imaizumi Imaemon 11st 十一代 今泉今右衛門

1873-1948malearita porcelainNabeshima porcelainSucceeded the 10th generation Imaemon in 1927 and became the 11th generation.Excelled at painting and succeeded in establishing a range of works that were on par with antiques from the Edo period by pursuing the restoration and modeling of colored Nabeshima ware and Ko-Imari ware in addition to the red painting techniques used through the 10th generation. Created the foundation for the restored techniques of colored Nabeshima ware used by the present Imaemon. Upon the enthronement of King George VI of the United Kingdom in 1937, received the honor of producing the gift for Lord Drummond at the (more…)

Inoue Shunpo 2nd 二代 井上春峰

1928-1997femalekyo potteryBorn as the 1st daughter of the 1st generation Inoue Shunpo, who moved from Seto to Kyoto during the Taisho era, started a kiln at the foot of Amidagamine Mountain, and used advanced techniques of blue and white porcelain and red paintings to mainly create tea things for green tea. Studied under the 1st generation and inherited the techniques. Became the 2nd generation when the 1st generation passed away in 1969. Submitted a work for the time capsule during the Osaka Expo in 1970.Excelled at the production of tea things for green tea as the potter of Obaku based (more…)

Ino Shukuho 3rd 三代 井野祝峯

1943-maleAfter graduating from university, worked to manufacture special ceramics in Nagoya. Later returned to Kyoto and started making bonsai pots under the guidance of his father, the 2nd generation Shukuho. After his father passed away in 1980, started making ceramics based on his independent research and became the 3rd generation Shukuho. Made masterpieces in copies of Japanese pots and Chinese pots using blue and white ceramics, yellow glazes, blue drop glazes, Oribe ware, and lapis lazuli. (more…)