Japanese potters

Nakamura Rokuro 中村六郎

1914-2004malebizen potteryBorn in Imbe. His father made a fortune in business and was a close patron of artists such as Kaneshige Toyo. As a result, he was exposed to Bizen ware from an early age. Under the influence of that time, he aspired to become a potter. He worked for a company until the end of the war and studied under Living National Treasure Kaneshige Toyo from 1945. When Kitaoji Rosanjin visited Kaneshige Toyo’s home, he learned his techniques together with Fujiwara Kei, Yamamoto Toshu and others. Became independent in 1961. Awarded a prize at the Japan Traditional Craft Exhibition. (more…)

Nakamura Yutaka 中村豊

1948-maleechizen potteryBorn in Tsuruga City. Graduated from Osaka University of Arts and won the Grand Prix. Set up Suesugi kiln in Echizen Pottery Village in 1972. In 1976, he built a cellar kiln. Awarded the Asahi Ceramic Art Exhibition Prize in 1974, the honorable mention, and the Grand Prize in 1979. Awarded the Newcomer’s Prize by the Prefectural Cultural Association. Selected for Chunichi International Exhibition among others. Commissioned by the Museum of Ethnology to make a large commode. (more…)

Nakamura Fumimasa 中村文昌

1939-malemashiko potteryBorn in Mashiko. Inherited the family business. Studied at the Nagoya Industrial Standards Institute in 1958. Won awards at the Shinkyo-Ten and Japan Traditional Crafts Exhibition, among others. Held personal exhibitions at Shibuya Tokyu, Ginza Matsuya, and Utsunomiya Ueno. Iron glaze, salt glaze and ash glaze. (more…)

Nakamura Fumio 中村文夫

1948-maleBorn in Shizuoka Prefecture. Worked as a potter in Shigaraki in 1974. Graduated from the Shigaraki Pottery Research Institute. Later, he studied in Mexico and the United States before returning to Japan in 1981 and holding a solo exhibition at the Shigaraki G Sueen. Since then, he has participated in the Shigaraki Zokei Exhibition, the Shiga Art of Tomorrow Exhibition at Yokkaichi Culture and Art Hall, the Zao Outdoor Exhibition at Natsuki Gallery, the Otsu Seibu Shigaraki Ten Artists’ Expressions Exhibition among others. Black pottery, bleaching. (more…)

Nakamura Hiroyuki 中村廣行

1949-maletokoname potteryBorn in Tokoname City. Graduated from Tokoname High School. Studied at the Tokoname Ceramics Research Institute in 1968 and left in 1973. Pottery making under the tutelage of Yamada Hikaru in Kyoto at his home studio. He was awarded prizes at the Japan Ceramic Art Exhibition, Asahi Ceramic Art Exhibition and Tokai Traditional Craft Exhibition. (more…)

Nakamura Hiroshi 中村裕

1954-maleBorn in Bihoro, Abashiri. Graduated from the Faculty of Engineering, Nihon University. In 1978, he entered the Kyoto Industrial Research Institute. Thereafter, he worked at the Tajimi Kusanogashira kiln and the Fuji kiln in Sapporo. Built a kiln in 1982. His work was selected for the Traditional Craft New Work Exhibition and the Japan Ceramic Art Exhibition. Blue and white ceramics, iron glaze, and gray glaze. water jar 27,500 JPY 札幌市南区滝野157 kusanogama.com草の窯 | Kusanogama (more…)

Aoya Togo 6th 六代 粟生屋東洸

1948-malekyo potterySix generations from the first generation of Aoya Togo. Took on the name for the sixth generation after the death of the fifth generation in 1976. His actual name is Nakamura Kozo. Graduated from Kansai University and the Kyoto Ceramic Art Training Institute. He took on Houkokugama with a focus on tea ceremony and flower arrangement spanning a wide range of styles including red glazing, dyeing, shozui, gold-painted porcelain, and Korean. In 1986, he held a pottery exhibition at Kyoto Takashimaya Department Store to commemorate the tenth anniversary of his name succession. (more…)

Nakamura Toukichi 2nd 二代 中村陶吉

1912-2007malemoriyama potteryA pupil of Tokichi the 1st, the founder of Moriyama ware and succeeded his father after his death in 1949. Awarded the Prefectural Governor’s Award for Excellence in Technical Skills. Member of the Japanese Artists Cooperative. Director of the Prefectural Council of Arts and Crafts. Member of the prefectural exhibition committee. Iron glaze, yellow-ash glaze, handwork. (more…)

Nagai Hidenori 長井秀憲

1948-?maletsutsugawa potterykaratsu potteryTrained in Koishihara, Fukuoka Prefecture, as well as Kyoto and Kagoshima. Started the Shukengama Kiln for Utsutsugawa ware in Nagasaki in 1972. Studies ancient Utsutsugawa ware and makes ceramics based on Karatsu ware. (more…)

Dai Ichi Toki 第一陶器

Dai Ichi Toki is a major Mino ware trade agency located in Tajimi City, Gifu Prefecture. The company filed for bankruptcy protection under the Civil Rehabilitation Law and went bankrupt in 2007. They are currently rebuilding the company. (more…)

Tachikichi たち吉

1752- Tachikichi is a long-standing pottery distributer in Kyoto. The company makes pottery designs, sends them to potteries for manufacturing, then sells them.It is said Tachikichi, formerly Tachibanaya Kishibei, was first founded on Shijo and Tominokoji streets in the center of Kyoto in 1752, in the late Edo period, which means they have a history of over 250 years.Around 1955, they rapidly increased their sales with a method called “buying club” (a type of subscription), and became famous nationwide. Tachikichi orders from the following potteries: Kutani ware, Mino ware, Seto ware, Tokoname ware, Yokkaichi Banko ware, Shigaraki ware, Kyo ware, (more…)

Yamada Tosai 山田東哉

Meiji period-maleHe was the stepson of Sawamura Toya, the founder of Kiyomizu-yaki ware, and from before the war to after the war, he worked under the name Sawamura Toya in Tokyo with the permission of his predecessor.His eldest son, Etsuo, born in 1948, graduated from Doshisha High School in 1966, and later from the Department of Industrial Design at Musashino Art University, Musashino Art University in 1970, and after returning to Japan, he studied under his predecessor, and in 2001 he succeeded to the second generation. (more…)

Kato Takuo 加藤卓男

1917-2005maleliving national treasureHis father was Kato Kobei the 5th, who presided over the Maruko Pottery Company. Purchased by the government for the Nitten Special Prize. Awarded the Modern Craft Prize at the Japan Modern Crafts Exhibition. Awarded the Asahi Ceramic Art Exhibition Ceramics Prize. Awarded the Tokai TV Culture Award for his research on ancient Persian ceramics, and the Chunichi Culture Award for his teaching and training of Mino ceramics. Councilor and judge at the Japan Modern Industrial Exhibition, the Chunichi International Exhibition, and the Nitten exhibition. President of the Mino Ceramic Society. Councilor of the Japan Federation of Industry (more…)

Kato Takabu 加藤嵩

1937-maleseto potteryStudied under Kato Shunto. Awarded prizes at the Nitten, Japan Contemporary Craft Exhibition, Kofue-kai Exhibition, and Asahi Ceramic Art Exhibition. His works are mainly ash glaze, black glaze, oribe and kizeto. (more…)

Kato Takatoshi 加藤孝俊

1917-1999maleHe was the eldest son of Shingyokuen Hishimatsu, a Seto potter who has produced blue-and-white porcelain for generations. After graduating from the Chukyo School of Commerce, he learned the theory and practice of ceramic and inorganic chemistry from his brother-in-law Kobayashi Shigeru. Engaged in the production of Song dynasty ceramics in 1965, elucidated a series of iron-glazed glazes, and perfected oil drop, celadon, Jun ware moonlight white glaze, and purple-red glaze. Served as a counselor at the Tokugawa Art Museum. (more…)

Kato Sumera 加藤皇

1915-2002malemino potteryHe is the fifteenth generation of the Mino Ichi-no-kura family of ceramics. Studied under Kato Hajime. Awarded a prize at the Traditional Craft New Works Exhibition, Nitten, Japan Modern Crafts Exhibition, and others. Specially selected for the Kanagawa Prefectural Exhibition, etc. Currently a member of the Shizuoka-Kanagawa Bikyo Exhibition. Judged at the Fujisawa City Exhibition and the Samukawa Bikyo Exhibition. (more…)

Kato Sakusuke 5th 五代 加藤作助

1940-maleseto potteryReal name is Kato Shinya. He is the eldest son of Sakusuke of Kosetogama kiln, a renowned potter. Graduated from the Sculpture Department of the Tokyo National University of Fine Arts and Music, and the Graduate School of Ceramics. Studied under Kato Hajime, Tamura Koichi and Fujimoto Yoshimichi. Won prizes at the Japan Traditional Craft Exhibition and other competitions. Served as an instructor at Aichi University of Arts and Women’s Art University. Works mainly on oribe, ki-zeto, iron glaze, and ash glaze. A regular member of the Japan Industrial Arts Association. (more…)

Kato Jin 加藤仁

1926-?maleBorn in Nara Prefecture. Studied under the ceramic designer Hineno Sakuzo. After working at the Sanagai Ceramic Research Institute, Mie Prefectural Ceramic Experiment Station, and Kotani Ceramic Research Institute, he built his own kiln in 1961. Exhibited at the Nitten, Modern Japanese Ceramic Art Exhibition and Japan-Germany Exchange Exhibition. Served as supervisor of the Mino Ceramic Society. Held many solo exhibitions. (more…)

Kato Jiro 加藤二郎

1954-1996maleStudied in Canada and Europe for five years from 1972. Completed the Fine Arts School of Montreal. After returning to Japan, studied under Ando Yoshiaki at the Houshouji ware in Tottori. Built the kiln in 1979. Awarded the Newcomer’s Prize at the Shinkyo Art Exhibition. Became a member of the same exhibition. Solo exhibition at Asuka, Okayama. His works are mainly scorched surface coloring and oil drop tenmoku style. (more…)