Japanese potters

Ando Shutaro 安藤秀太郎

1876-1937malehosshoji potteryBorn in Tottori. Worked at Hossho-ji Kiln. Studied under Matsuura Kujiro and Hara Choshiro. Worked at a number of kilns including Izumo and Ishishu, and was given the Ochiai Kiln in 1903. He named it the Hossho-ji Hanaya Kiln. Currently, the fourth generation is Ando Masumi. (more…)

Asami Ryuzo 浅見隆三

1904-1987maleBorn as the second son to Asami Gorosuke III, he studied under his grandfather, Gorosuke II, and after being selected to receive his first award at the 10th Imperial Exhibition in 1929, his participation in exhibitions continued. He studied under Kusube Yaichi in 1945, following the war period. In addition, he exhibited at the Japan Fine Arts Exhibition in 1946, received a special honor in 1951, and received the Minister of Education Award in 1964. He won many awards in addition to these.He received an award at the Czech International Ceramics Exhibition in 1962. (more…)

Asai Ichigo 浅井一毫

1836-1916malekutani porcelainBorn the second son of Asai Choemon of the Kaga Daishoji Domain, he studied Japanese painting under Horibun Ishiki and Kojima Harcho, and handled coloring at the Kutani Ware Miyamoto Kiln.In 1866, when the domain presented a set of tea ceremony tools to Mr. Nijo, he was in charge of its production. The feudal lord presented him with the inscription “Soseitei Ikki,” and he became a master of the “akae saibyou” style of painting.In the beginning of the Meiji Era, he adopted Eiriki Wazen’s “kinrade” technique to create “kinrade akae,” giving new direction to Kutani ware.He also traveled to (more…)

Adachi Misumi 安達益三

Showa period-bizen potteryServed as the president of an arts junior college and established an on-campus pottery club.Built a home kiln and began making pottery, mainly high-fired, unglazed ceramics using soil ordered from Bizen. (more…)

Itaya Hazan 板谷波山

1872-1963maleGraduated from Tokyo Art School (Tokyo University of the Arts) in the Sculpting Department.Learned alongside students such as Okakura Tenshin and Takamura Koun.He built a home at Tabata which also doubled as a workshop, and after installing a downdraft style kiln, he devoted himself to creating pottery in order to utilize the fruits of the research on pottery he had engaged in up until that point.In 1907, he exhibited his work, “Jisei Kinshimon Kesshoyu Vase” at the Tokyo Industrial Exposition and won third place prize.After winning many prizes, he was appointed an Imperial Household Artist in 1934. In 1945, his (more…)

Ishiguro Munemaro 石黒宗磨

1893-1968maleliving national treasureIshiguro Munemaro roamed areas such as Tokyo, Saitama, Toyama and Kanazawa as he created his pottery works, before building a kiln at Ohara, Kyoto and settling down in 1935. He then became close to individuals such as Koyama Fujio, Katō Hajime, Kaneshige Toyo, Arakawa Toyozō and Katō Tōkuro and founded the Tōri Society and the Kashiwa Society among others.His style was of free-spirited expression, and he showed outstanding talent in fields such as black glaze, iron glaze, iron painting, temmoku glaze, Karatsu ware, overglaze enamel and ash glaze.In particular, he was acknowledged as a holder of cultural property (more…)

Hirasawa Kuro 平沢九朗

1772-1840maleseto potterySamurai and ceramic artist during the late Edo Era.Born in 1772, he was a member of the Owari Nagoya Clan. Hirasawa enjoyed the tea ceremony, and made teaware in the seto and karatsu styles in his free time. His creations had a unique quality and were known as Kuro-yaki. He died at the age of 69 on June 23, 1840. His name was Kazusada. His alias was Seikuro. Also Konjyakuan. (more…)

Hara Kiyoshi 原清

1936–malekyo potteryliving national treasureAn aspiring potter, Hara Kiyoshi became an apprentice of Ishiguro Munemaro in 1954, later studying under Munemaro’s top apprentice Shimizu Uichi.He opened his own kiln in Setagaya, Tokyo in 1965, after previously participating in the Japan Traditional Kogei Exhibition for the first time in 1958 and becoing a regular member of the Japan Kogei Association in 1961.After opening his own kiln, he was conferred the Chairman’s Award at the Japan Traditional Kogei Exhibition in 1969, the Japan Ceramic Society Award in 1976, and the Tokyo Governor’s Award at the Japan Traditional Kogei Exhibition in 1997. He was (more…)

Hamada Shoji 濱田庄司

1894-1978malemashiko potteryliving national treasureHamada Shoji was a renowned craftsman and representative figure in modern Japanese pottery. Born in Tokyo in 1894, he resolved to become a potter while still a student at Furitsuicchu (the Tokyo First Prefectural Jr. High School, Hibiya high school at present). After studying ceramics at the Tokyo Higher Technical School (present-day Tokyo Institute of Technology), Hamada joined the Kyoto Municipal Ceramic Laboratory, where he would meet his lifelong friend, Kawai Kanjiro. As Hamada later summarized the narrative arc of his career, “I found the path in Kyoto, began my journey in England, studied in Okinawa, and (more…)

Nagaoka Kugon (Nagaoka Sumiemon 11th) 長岡空権 (十一代 長岡住右衛門)

1929-malerakuzan potteryThe first Sumiuemon revived the Rakuzangama kiln during the Kyowa period (1801-1804) at the orders of the feudal lord of Matsumoto; he is the 11th-generation successor. Mainly makes Irabo tea bowls in an area with a tea ceremony tradition. Focuses on solo exhibitions and has held them at Nihonbashi Mitsukoshi, Hiroshima Fukuya, Osaka Kintetsu, Gifu Marumono, and elsewhere. (more…)

Nagaoka Sadao 永岡定夫

1956-malehagi potteryStudied under his father-in-law. Made pottery at Gosengama Kiln for Hagi ware and Nagaoka Pottery. Won the Yamaguchi Prefecture Legislative Assembly President’s Prize at the Chugoku Region Exhibition of Japan Modern Crafts. Selected for the Hagi City Exhibition, the City Art Association Exhibition, the Yamaguchi Prefecture Exhibition, the Kyushu Yamaguchi Ceramics Exhibition, the Japan Modern Crafts Art Exhibition and others. Member of the Hagi Artists’ Association. (more…)

Nagaoka Osamu 永岡修

1948-maleGraduated from the Osaka University of Arts. Set up independently in Nagasaki in 1979. Won second prize in the Kyushu Yamaguchi Exhibition, etc. Specially selected for the Miyazaki Prefecture Exhibition. Won Honorable Mention in the Miyanichi Art Exhibition, etc. Selected for the Asahi Ceramics Exhibition and others. Has held solo exhibitions at Miyazaki Yamagataya and elsewhere. Focuses on white-glazed inlay work and colored slip. (more…)

Nakao Yasuzumi 中尾恭純

1950-malearita porcelainFrom Arita. Trained at the Saga Ceramics Research Institute. Studied under Inoue Manji. Won third prize in the Kyushu Yamaguchi Exhibition, as well as the Saga Television Prize. Won the Okinawa Times Prize in the West Japan Crafts Exhibition, the Asahi Newspaper Prize, the Prefectural Exhibition Association Prize, and the Member Merit Award. Won an Honorable Mention at the Issui-kai Exhibition. Selected for the Japan Traditional Crafts Exhibition and others. Focuses on white ceramics, blue-and-white ceramics, and colored engraving. Regular member of the Japan Crafts Association. (more…)

Nagao Toshiaki 中尾利秋

1924-?malearita porcelainMakes traditional local porcelain at Riemongama Kiln. flower vase 1,200 JPY 佐賀県西松浦郡有田町桑古場 利衛門窯 (more…)

Nagao Kuichi 長尾九市

1928-?From Hyogo Prefecture. Graduated from Hyogo Teaching School and taught afterwards. Used ceramics in learning and learned from Ikuta Kazutaka, Koyama Kiyoko, and Minamiban. Set up a studio and a ceramics classroom in 1973. Lecturer at the Amagasaki City Ceramics Classroom. Member of the Amagasaki Craft and Culture Association. Chairperson of the Toenkai Association. (more…)

Nakao Akira 中尾晃

1957-malebizen potteryFrom Katsuta, Okayama Prefecture. Graduated from the Tokuyama University Department of Economics. Learned Buddha statue sculpture from a Kyoto Buddhist image maker through correspondence learning during his studies. Later trained at the Bizen Ceramics Center on the encouragement of Horie Shozan, who was from the same area. Set up a kiln independently in 1984. Has been selected for the prefectural exhibition and others. (more…)

Nagae Shigekazu 長江重和

1953-maleseto potteryFrom Seto. Graduated from Seto Ceramics High School. Has won Chunichi First Prize as well as Honorable Mention at Chunichi International Exhibition. Won a prize at the 1979 Asahi Ceramics Exhibition, the Craft Prize at the Japan New Crafts Exhibition, the Special Prize at the Asahi Craft Exhibition, etc. Has been selected for and won prizes at the Japan Fine Arts Exhibition and elsewhere. (more…)

Nagae Koshi 永江港史

1926-2007maleStudied under his father Toroku, who worked at the Gifu Ceramics Research Institute. Built a kiln in 1964. Uses Oribe-style techniques and focuses on tea bowls. Has held solo exhibitions at Osaka Central G, Nihonbashi Mitsukoshi and elsewhere. (more…)

Nagaike Junichi 長池潤一

1947-1993maleFrom Nagasaki Prefecture. Graduated from the Tokyo University of Arts with a major in crafts, and completed the ceramics course in said university’s graduate school. Studied under Fujimoto Yoshimichi, Tamura Koichi, and Asano Akira. His works have been procured by said university. Won the Merit Award at the Japan Traditional Crafts New Works Exhibition, and the Honorable Mention at the Tokai Traditional Crafts Exhibition. Selected for the Japan Traditional Crafts Exhibition. Regular member of the Japan Crafts Association. Focuses on colored glaze and yellow glaze. (more…)

Nagai Yuko 永井佑子

1945-femaleFrom Toyama Prefecture. Decided to pursue pottery in 1976. Set up a kiln independently in 1982. Has been selected for the Women’s Ceramics Exhibition, won the Kyoto Governor’s Prize, etc. Member of said association. Selected for the prefectural exhibition. Has held solo exhibitions every year since 1983. Focuses on objects of art. (more…)