Japanese potters

Hamada Shinsaku 濱田晋作

1929-2023malemashiko potteryBorn as the second son of Living National Treasure Hamada Shoji, Shinsaku moved with his family to Mashiko, Tochigi Prefecture when he was only several months old. It was here that he developed an interest in pottery, and it was in junior high school that he committed himself to carrying on his father’s legacy by becoming a pottery. Around 1950, at the same time as when he graduated from university, Hamada began his own training in pottery in his father’s workshop. In 1963, he served as an assistant to his father and Bernard Leach as they toured America giving (more…)

Fujiwara Yu 藤原雄

1932-2001malebizen potteryliving national treasureBorn as the eldest son of Living National Treasure for bizen ware Fujiwara Kei, after graduating from university, Fujiwara worked for a time as a magazine editor, but was convinced by his father and Oyama Fujio to return home where he began his tutelage in ceramics under his father.After this, Fujiwara went on to produce work after work, presenting them in exhibitions by Japan kogei association, the Gendai Nihon Togei, and the Issuikai, eventually becoming a member of the latter in 1960, and becoming a regular member of Japan kogei association the following year.Fujiwara won the grand (more…)

Fujiwara Kei 藤原啓

1899-1983malebizen potteryliving national treasureStarting out with a passion for literatary studies, Fujiwara began submitting haiku and poems throughout his elementary and junior high school years to various publications and winning awards for some of his submissions. Leaving for Tokyo at the age of 19, he began working as an editor for Hakubunkan while also attending university and was producing poems under the pen name Fujiwara Keiji. However, due to poor health, he abandoned his aspirations of becoming a writer of literature and returned to his hometown in 1973.After returning home, Fujiwara began to practice pottery at the suggestion of Manyoshu (more…)

Fujimoto Yoshimichi 藤本能道

1919-1992maleliving national treasureAfter graduating from art school ad being admitted to the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science, and Technology’s industrial arts engineering training center, Fujimoto entered into an apprenticeship under Kato Hajime, and began producing works alongside Tomimoto Kenkichi as his pottery assistant in 1938.Fujimoto won the Kofukaiten Kofukai Kogeisho Award in 1938, and after World War II exhibited works primarily in the various exhibitions held by the Japan Ceramics Society. Fujimoto won an award from the society as well as the silver prize from the International Academy of Ceramics in Geneva in 1956. Furthermore, though Fujimoto for a (more…)

Bernard Leach

1887-1979maleAfter losing his mother as a baby, Leach spent his early childhood in Kyoto raised by his father, a Japanese resident.He later returned to England, but came back to Japan in 1909 aged 21. Connecting with writers and artists from the Shirakaba Group, he was especially friendly with Yanagi Soetsu, and became captivated by ceramics. He began studying ceramics under Ogata Kenzan the 6th, producing Raku ware and so on.He endeavored in pottery techniques at Hamada Shoji’s Mashiko kiln base, became acquainted with Kawai Kanjiro and participated with him in Yanagi’s mingei movement. In 1920 he returned to England accompanied (more…)

Taizan Yohei 帯山与兵衛

early Edo priodo-1895malekyo potteryThe kiln was first opened in 1673-1681 by Takahashi Tokuro from Omi Province under the name of Taizan Yohei in Awatayama, Kyoto, and the kiln was continued until the ninth generation of the family in middle of the Meiji period.During the second, third, and fourth generations, he produced matcha bowls, drinking vessels, and other wares and protected the family business well.During the era of the 5th Yohee, he established the technique of celadon porcelain in the Bunka period (1804-1818). And during the Tenpo period (1830-1843), the 6th generation began to produce painted porcelain and developed works by (more…)

Takashima Tokumatsu 高島徳松

The first：1855-1902In 1890, he was acquired by Morimura-gumi (later Noritake Co., Ltd.), and from then on he became a senior potter at the company’s factory, producing porcelain tableware mainly for the domestic market. The second：1889-1941The second son of the first Tokumatsu, his real name is Eikichi. In 1902 he succeeded to the second generation and in 1916 he took over the factory from the first. He concentrated on researching glazes and developed Oboro-ware, together with Hino Atsushi and others. He also produced fire-resistant insulated porcelain and made a major contribution to the next generation of Seto ware. (more…)

Takemoto Hayata 竹本隼太

1848-1892maleBorn into a family of hatamoto that served the Tokugawa shogunate for generations, he was active in national affairs at the end of the Edo period, but lost his job after the restoration of the Meiji government.After the Meiji Restoration, he began to make pottery under the name of Gansuien, inspired by his father’s hobbies of ceramics and bonsai and by his acquaintance with the Seto potter, Inoue Ryosai. He played a pioneering role in modern craftsmanship by perfecting the method of firing using press moulds and was awarded the Kamon award at the first National Industrial Exhibition in 1877 (more…)

Tanaka Ichibe 田中一米

1894-1945maleAfter graduating from junior high school, he trained as a potter at kilns in various parts of Japan, including Kiyomizu-ware, Shigaraki-ware and Uchide-ware, and toured China and Korea to deepen his knowledge of ceramics.After returning to Japan, he was invited by Nakamura Kenkichi (1889-1934, a poet of the Araragi school, born in Hiroshima prefecture) to open a kiln in Nakahiro-cho, Hiroshima City in 1926, and with the help of the tea ceremony master Ishii Tanshosai, he built kilns in various locations in Hiroshima Prefecture.In 1943, he joined the Guangling Pioneers and emigrated to Manchuria, but died there in 1945.He is (more…)

Takugen Yasuke 啄元弥介

1747-1830maleraku potteryAfter the death of the 9th Ryosai, who was a cabinetmaker for Omotesenke School.Although the style of his work is Raku style, he is said to have excelled in the technique of Akaraku ware.Takku retired from the pottery business around 1825 and called Takugen The pottery business was handed over to the second generation he but continued to produce pottery.The 2nd Takugen was also engaged in Ryosai’s Kairakuen Pottery business and received the seal of “Kyuraku” from the Tokugawa family. (more…)

Tanaka Haseki 田中巴石

1855-1919maleokayama korakuen potteryAfter training in pottery making techniques at Mushiake-gama-kiln and Ako-yaki-gama-kilns in Okayama Prefecture, he opened a kiln under the name Zanmuken in the ruins of an old Korakuen kiln in 1907, and revived Korakuen ware by producing works in the style of Raku ware. (more…)

Tashiro Monzaemon 田代紋左衛門

1817-1900maleIn 1857, he acquired Dutch trading rights from the Hisatomi family and England trading rights from the Saga Clan in 1960, and imported thin ware of Mikawachi-yaki pottery, such as lids cups and coffee cups, and painted them with indigo and red paintings, and exported them mainly to Europe, Shanghai and New York. Later on, he established Tashiro Trading Company to take over the Saka Trading Company in Nagasaki and expanded his business. (more…)

Norimatsu Shunkou 乗松俊行

1923-?malebizen potteryBorn in Matsuyama City, Ehime Prefecture. Graduated from the Kawabata Institute of Western painting and the Japan Art School. Studied under the sculptors Ogura Ichiro and Kiyomizu Rokubey at the Ehime Prefectural Toibe Pottery Works, then apprenticed in Bizen in 1958. Built the kiln in 1967. Won prizes at the Japan Traditional Craft Exhibition, the East China Branch Exhibition, and others. Awarded the Sanyo Housou Award. Bizen Mayor’s Award, etc. Solo exhibitions at Osaka Hanshin, Hiroshima Mitsukoshi, Ginza Kuroda Toen, Ikebukuro Seibu, Nihonbashi Mitsukoshi, Ginza Matsuya, and others. Regular member of the Japan Kogei association. (more…)

Norimatsu Kenko 乗松建行

1958-2008malebizen potteryHe was born in Onsen County, Ehime Prefecture. The eldest son of Norimatsu Toshiyuki. He left Ryukoku University in 1979 and entered the Bizen Pottery Center. Studied under his father in 1980. Later, he attended the ceramics course at the Bica Nazionale di Faenza, Italy, and studied under Miyamoto Takashi, a sculptor. Awarded the Honorable Mention at the Okayama Prefectural Exhibition, the Mayor’s Prize, and others. Awarded a prize at the East China Branch Exhibition of Japanese Traditional Crafts and the Tea Ceremony Sculpture Exhibition. Ginza Matsuya, Osaka Hanshin, Fukuoka Tenjin, Fukuoka Tenjin, Okayama Asuka Gallery, Shibuya Kuroda Toen (more…)

Norimatsu Kinzo 則松金蔵

1946-maleInfluenced by his father’s interest in antiques, he set his sights on making pottery. Apprenticed in Mino in 1962. Returned to Iizuka, Fukuoka in 1955 and built his own kiln and became independent. Made pottery mainly using the traditional Mino techniques of Shino, Kizeto, Setoguro, and Oribe in Karatsu and other cities. He is known for his strong enamel tones and iron coloration. (more…)

Nomoto Seikou 野本星黄

1914-?maletobe porcelainStudied under Ito Midosho in Kyoto. Returned to ceramics after the war. Built a kiln in Iyo, Ehime Prefecture in 1951. Selected for the Nitten exhibition the following year. Awarded the first prize at the National Ceramics Exhibition. First prize at the Export Craft Exhibition. A member of the Creative Arts Exhibition. Recognized as a traditional craftsman in 1957 and an intangible cultural asset of Toibe Town. His works are mainly white porcelain, inlaid and glazed. (more…)

Nomura Hiroyuki 野村博行

1956-maleStudied under Hashiba Ryoichi in Toki, Japan. Later, he studied under Shimizu Kozetsu and Yo in Yokkaichi. Opened a kiln in 1981. Awarded a prize at the Gifu Prefectural Art Exhibition and was commissioned to exhibit his work at the same exhibition. Awarded the Chuunichi Prize at the Tokai Traditional Craft Exhibition. Selected for the Chunichi International Ceramic Art Exhibition, Tokai Traditional Craft Exhibition, Japan Traditional Craft Exhibition, and Asahi Ceramic Art Exhibition. Solo exhibitions in Tokyo, Nagoya, Toyohashi, and elsewhere. Yajiyaki, carbonization, gray glaze, and purple clay pottery change. (more…)

Noma Zuiun 野間瑞雲

1918-?malehagi potteryHis real name is Yoshio. He was introduced to Izumi Ryuzan in 1940. Studied under Yoshika Taibi. After serving as the head of Senryuzan kiln, he established Zuun kiln in 1973. He has devoted himself to Hagi ware. (more…)

Nonaka Taku 野中拓

1955-maleBorn in Ureshino. Studied under Inoue Manji and Ono Hakuko. Won a prize at the Japan Traditional Craft Exhibition and others. Awarded the Minister of Education Award at the Prefectural Exhibition. Awarded the Kyushu-Yamaguchi Exhibition and the Seibu Kogei Exhibition. A regular member of the Japan Industrial Arts Association Blue and white porcelain, Tenmoku. (more…)

Nonaka Shoji 野中詔二

1942-maleStudied under his father Harukiyo. Built a kiln in Gotemba, Shizuoka Prefecture, in 1976. Built anagama kiln in Gotemba, Shizuoka in 1981. Awarded the Nippu Prize and the Honorable Mention at the Nippu Exhibition, and later withdrew as a member. Selected for the Japan Traditional Craft Exhibition, member of Tokyo Branch. Mainly blue and white porcelain. (more…)