Japanese potters

Kato Toyohisa 加藤土代久

1962 –maleshino potteryKato Toyohisa was born into a family of potters who primarily produced western-style tableware. After graduating high school, he went on to enter the Gifu Prefectural Ceramics Research Institute, where he studied under Hayashi Shotaro. He started creating his own works as he helped with the family business and, beginning with the Asahi Ceramics Newcomer’s Honorable Mention Award and the Tajimi Art Exhibition Grand Prize in 1983, he began finding success submitting works to a number of exhibits, further winning the Ando Shichiho Award at the Tokai Traditional Crafts Exhibition in 1987, the Award of Excellence at the (more…)

Kato Shuntei 加藤春鼎

1885 -?maleseto potteryKato Shuntei operated a family ceramic making business passed down through the generations. His father worked under the name Kato Shunsen, but he began working with the name Kato Shuntei after his family branched apart in 1907. At first, he collected old porcelain works and studied their shapes and glazing methods as he made Ki-Seto (‘yellow Seto ware’) and Oribe ware. After learning tea ceremony with famous tea ceremony master Masuda Dono, however, he switched to mainly producing tea bowls.In 1943, he received special certification for his exceptional skills through a system called maru-gi, which was meant to (more…)

Kano Shokoku 1st 初代 叶松谷

1899 – 1965malekyo potteryMoving to Kyoto at the age of 10, Kano Shokoku received ceramic making training from Kiyomizu Rokubey V, and went on to hone his skills on his own, eventually being officially designated as an artist whose contributions should be preserved for prosperity in 1941 for his adept depictions of good omensWhen examining his style, we note that there are some pottery pieces among his early works, but he focused most heavily on the production of porcelain ware. (more…)

Kato Shunji 3rd 三代 加藤春二

1944 –maleseto potteryBorn the grandson of Shunji II (his father died at war). He began assisting at his grandfather’s ceramics studio after completing his studies at Setoyogyo High School and Musashino Art University, making his own works on the side. He later inherited the title of Shunji in 1980 upon his grandfather’s death. (more…)

Kato Shunji 2nd 二代 加藤春二

1892 – 1979maleseto potteryKato Shunji II was born the son of first-generation Kato Shunji. After inheriting the title of Kato Shunji II in 1912, he continued his father’s work making tea bowls, and helped innovate traditional Seto ware glazes. Notably, he served the Grand Master of the Matsuo-style of tea ceremony, the most prominent Japanese school of tea in the Chubu region, for whom he created several fantastic works. In 1975, he was certified as a prefecturally-designated important intangible cultural property of Aichi.In 1940, to honor the spirits of those who died at war, he worked together with Buddhist-image potter (more…)

Kato Shunji 加藤春二

1864 – 1945maleseto potteryKato Shunji was born the child of potter Kato Genju of Owari-Seto toward the end of the feudal era. In 1890, he went independent when he was bestowed an elliptical emblem bearing the characters for “Shunji” from Tokugawa Yoshiakira, the 18th generation head of the Tokugawa clan. Later, in 1909, the 19th generation Tokugawa clan head, Tokugawa Yoshichika, bestowed upon him a golden aoi (‘hollyhock’) emblem. Thereafter, he made works such as bowls for the Tokugawa clan using a kiln named Aoi-gama.His works favor a classical style, and shine for their use of traditional techniques such as (more…)

Kato Kagenori 加藤景典

? -1849maleseto potteryThe 15th Seto Akazu ceramics potter in line beginning from founder Masataka, active in the latter half of the Edo period.He went by the name Shunzan, and specialized in Ki-Seto (‘yellow Seto-ware’), Setoguro (‘black Seto-ware’), and Oribe pieces, but few of his works remain, and many aspects of his life are unknown. Details are unknown, but he is reportedly Kato Shuntai’s father. (more…)

Kato Kiheiji 2nd 二代 加藤喜平治

Mid-Edo periodmaleseto potteryReal name: Kiheiji. Kato Kiheiji was a Seto potter active in Owari Province (modern-day western Aichi) between 1764 and 1772. He left behind masterful works under the name Shunzan that feature thick applications of Oribe and Shino glazes. (more…)

Kawakami Shin 川上伸

1949 –maleAfter graduating university, Kawakami Shin perfected his craft at a special vocational school for ceramics making in Aichi, and, from 1980, under the guidance of potter Suzuki Goro. He opened his kiln in Gujo Hachiman, Gifu that same year, followed by another kiln the next year in the village of Wara.Further opening a cellar kiln in 1998 in Nyukawa Village, he has ever since been actively holding solo exhibitions at galleries in his home prefecture of Gifu and the Chubu region, and has continued to passionately create works of art. (more…)

Kano Shokoku 3rd 三代 叶松谷

1948 –malekyo potteryBorn the first son of Shokoku II, Kano Shokoku III began studying ceramics making under Kiyomizu Rokubey VI in 1963 after graduating university. The following year, he received an honorary prize at the International Ceramic Biennale Vallauris.In 1979, he participated in founding the Nihon Shinkogei Renmei (‘Japan New Arts and Crafts Union’), and accepted the Minister of Foreign Affairs Award at the Chunichi International Exhibition of Ceramic Arts that same year.He further presented works at the Nitten Exhibition, where he gathered many wins, including being selected for the Special Prize in 1990 and 1998. During this time, he (more…)

Kawamoto Hansuke 6th 六代 川本半助

1844 – 1905maleseto potteryBorn the child of Kawamoto Hansuke IV, he inherited the title of Hansuke VI after his older sister’s husband, Kawamoto Hansuke V, established a branch family.He created products for export, working to further efforts in research and improvement to aid the quality of his porcelain making. In 1881, he established the Seto Art Research Facility together with Inoue Ennen, pouring forth energy toward improving the products of Seto as a whole. That same year, he also launched the Seto Jikosha company with his brother-in-law, Masukichi, helping to promote sales of porcelain products. He was awarded the prize (more…)

Kato Shigeju 2nd 二代 加藤繁十

1829 – 1896maleseto potteryKato Shigeju II was the adopted son of first-generation Seto potter, Kato Shigeju, who would go on to inherit the pottery business.He studied white porcelain from the Qing dynasty (China), and imitated it to manufacture white porcelain pieces. Kato Shigeju II is also said to have pioneered “fuseyaki,” a method in which works are faced down during firing to prevent warping and to maintain shape.He received high praise at exhibitions, and his kiln continued until the fourth generation. (more…)

Kato Toju 加藤陶寿

1851 – 1916maleReal name: Tomotaro. Born the second son of Seto potter Kato Yohachi, Kato Toju began porcelain making after moving to Tokyo and beginning studies under Inoue Ryosai. Afterward, he received instruction from Gottfried Wagener and others at the Yamashita-mon Industrial Bureau Porcelain Making Test Center, and invented a unique red glaze named “Tojuko.” In 1882, he inherited Wagener’s western-style kiln and began operations under the new kiln name, Yugyokuen Ceramics. During this same time, he also worked as the factory manager at the ceramics manufacturing company, Edogawa Seitosho.Thereafter, he continued making dyed underglaze ceramics for export overseas which (more…)

Kato Sanpei 3rd 三代 加藤三平

1846 -1927maleseto porcelainKato Sanpei III was born the second son of Kato Sanpei II into a line of Seto-ware makers, from which he inherited his title.Kato looked after his house from a young age after his father died an early death, and he created porcelain pieces meant for export against the backdrop of the new Meiji era.Domestically, he presented works at a number of exhibitions, including the National Industrial Exhibition in 1878. He also worked as a potter for some time at the Hyochien workshop, and his name can now be seen among those works. (more…)

Kawamoto Masukichi 川本枡吉

1831-1907maleseto porcelainKawamoto Masukichi was born the third sun of Kato Yasuzaemon. He began his studies at Kato Yuji’s kiln, where he trained as a ceramic maker.He later became the adopted son-in-law of Kawamoto Hansuke IV, and inherited the title of Kawamoto Hansuke V. In 1862, however, he yielded control of the family to his brother-in-law, Rokusaburo (the eldest son of Hansuke IV), branching off from the family. Afterward, he began ceramic work under the name Kawamoto Masukichi, working with trade ceramics primarily consisting of blue and white porcelain, and also creating works for exhibition, which ultimately earned him high praise (more…)

Kato Kobei 5th 五代 加藤幸兵衛

1893-1982malemino potterySon of Kato Kobei (4th generation), he inherited the family business. Active at various exhibitions such as the Imperial Exhibition. After 1950, he became the director of the Gifu Prefectural Ceramics Research Institute for 23 years, contributing to the development of local industries and of the younger generation. In addition to imitating the techniques of ancient porcelain, his work aimed at developing modern porcelain to be aesthetically pleasing but useful. His son is Kato Takuo, a living national treasure, whose eldest son, Kato Hirohide, is the current 7th generation Kato Kobei. (more…)

Kawamoto Goro 河本五郎

1919-1986maleAfter graduating from Aichi Ceramics School, he worked diligently at the Kyoto National Ceramics Research Institute learning his trade, but was conscripted in 1940 and served in the army in China. After returning to Japan in 1946, he was adopted by Kawamoto Isotei, a potter working in blue-white dyed ceramics, under whom he studied. Selected for the Nitten Exhibition for the first time in 1953 after which he continued to exhibit his work, winning the Chunichi Award at his 2nd Nitten Exhibition in 1959. In the years leading up to his Special Hokuto Award at the 5th Nitten Exhibition in (more…)

Kano Mitsuo 叶光夫

1903-1970maleYounger brother of Kano Shokoku, he sought to branch out artistically from his older brother. Exhibited at the Imperial Exhibition prior to the war and at Nitten after the war. Participated in the formation of the famed Sodeisha group led by Yagi Kazuo in 1948 and in 1952 formed the Hakuhokai Association with Kusube Yaichi, Miyashita Yoshitoshi, Toyama Ito (3rd generation), Asami Ryuzo, and others. In 1967, he won the 10th Nitten Minister of Education Award and continued to be active as a major artist at Nitten. (more…)

Kawai Hirotsugu 河井博次

1919-1993maleMarried to Kawai Kanjiro’s only daughter Sayako. Adopted by Kanjiro as a son and began making ceramics. Recipient of awards such as the Japan Folk Art Association Award. (more…)

Kato Juemon 加藤十右衛門

1894-1974malemino potteryMost closely identified as a potter with Mino-ware, he also pursued other tradition forms such as Iga, Kuro-oribe, and Kizeto, leaving behind many masterpieces, particularly teacups and mizusashi (traditional water containers). His eldest son Hoemon, second son Koemon and third son Yaemon, all inherited his business and learned their craft from him. (more…)