Japanese potters

Okayasu Kyuzanjin 岡安宮山人

1931-malebizen potteryBorn in Kume-cho, Okayama Prefecture.1946 Entered Asamoto Kakuzan’s school in Tsuyama City and studied Nanban and Raku ware.1950 Joined the Ceramics Research Institute of the Kyoto Industrial Technology Agency, where he specialized in glazes.1954 Built a kiln at the time of his birth and presented glaze “Kase-red Glaze”, which was well received.However, he had a desire for other pottery and set out on a journey to study ceramics.1963 Worked on Shino and Oribe ware in Mino Kujiri, the place of Shino ware.After 10 years of training, he returned to his hometown, returning to Bizen ware.1972 Built a kiln at (more…)

Okamori Akira 岡森章

1929-maleshigaraki potteryBorn in Ueno City, Mie Prefecture. Graduated from Mie University. Later, studied under Hineno Sakuzo (1901-1984). Awarded the Governor’s Prize of the Prefectural Exhibition. Became a member of the Creative Art Exhibition. Awarded at the Asahi Ceramic Art Exhibition, Nitten exhibition, Modern Craft Exhibition, and others. President of the Iga Ceramic Art Association. Reproducing the old Iga in the present day. (more…)

Okamoto Risse 岡本立世

1948-maleBorn in Ueno City. After working as a designer, he opened his own pottery shop, Kuroto, in 1977. At present, he works a wide range of jobs as a system planner and continues his creative activities in order to change the stereotype of Japanese ceramics, even if only a little. The concept of his work is the pursuit of “unfinished beauty” and “freedom of ideas”. (more…)

Okamoto Hekizan 岡本碧山

1929-malebizen potteryHis real name is Masataka. He studied woodcarving in Kyoto, under Fujiwara Rakuzan in 1959. He moved to his hometown, Okayama, in 1972 to create pottery using anagama, electric and salt kilns. His main works are tea utensils and incense burners. (more…)

Eiraku Zengoro 12th Wazen 十二代 永楽善五郎 和全

1823-1896malekyo potterykutani porcelainAlso known as Nishimura Wazen. Eldest son of Hozen. He was very fond of Ninsei, and in 1852, he and his younger brother-in-law, Munesaburo (Kaizen) opened the new Eiraku Omuro Kiln on the remains of the Ninsei Kiln. Afterwards in the 14th year of the Tenpo Era (1843), he inherited the 12th generation name of Eiraku due to his father Hozen’s retirement.After that, in the second year of the Keio Era (1866), he was invited by Maeda Toshinaka of the domain of Daishoji in Kaga, and he opened the Kutani Eiraku Kiln with Munesaburo and his son Tsunejiro (more…)

Eiraku Zengoro 11th Hozen 十一代 永楽善五郎 保全

1795-1855malekyo potteryAlso knon as Nishimura Hozen. At first, he was a “kasshiki”, an attendant charged with announcing mealtimes to the monks, working under Daiko Sogen at Daitoku-ji Temple. However, with Daiko Sogen’s help, he became an adopted child of Ryozen when he was around 12 or 13 years of age. After that, he researched the making of pottery, and in 1817 (14th year of the Bunka Era), he succeeded to the name of Zengoro. Then, in 1827 (10th year of the Bunsei Era), he, along with his father Ryozen as well as others such as Kyukosai Sosa and Raku Tannyu, (more…)

Eiraku Zengoro 10th Ryozen 十代 永楽善五郎 了全

1771-1841malekyo potteryAlso known as Nishimura Ryozen. Born to the Ninth Generation Sogan, he lost both parents at a young age, then lost his home in the Great Tenmei Fire. Was able to restore his household in Ichijobashi with assistance from the Sanzen family among others. In addition to his trade of manufacturing Doburo tea kettles, he also had experience working with Seto, Annam, and Kouchi ware. In 1817 (14th year of the Bunka era), he adopted the name of Ryozen, with the character “Ryo” being taken from Ryoryosai Sosa of the Omote Senke school. Because the generational records, as well (more…)

Naoki Misa 直木美佐

1947-femaleraku potteryFrom Izushimoda. Learned from her father Tomojiro and her uncle the first Egawa Sessai. Built a kiln in Kamakura in 1980. Has held solo exhibitions at Shinjuku Odakyu, Isetan, and Shibuya Kuroda Pottery. Mainly makes Raku ware. (more…)

Naoki Tomojiro 直木友次良

1903-?maleraku potterySpecializes in matcha bowls in black and red Raku ware. Has learned from ancient and modern masterpieces and has over 30 years of ceramics experience. Unaffiliated. Only does solo exhibitions, such as in Ginza Kuroda Toen pottery. (more…)

Naito Reiko 内藤レイ子

1926-femaleGraduated from Tajimi Technical High School. Studied under Kato Kozo. Started a kiln in Futaba, Akita Prefecture, in 1972. Has been selected for the Women’s Ceramic Exhibition and others. (more…)

Naito Rokuro 内藤六郎

1950-maleFrom Tokyo. Graduated from the Tokyo University of the Arts and the Tokyo University of the Arts Graduate School. Built a kiln in Yamanashi Prefecture in 1980. Selected for the Japan Traditional Crafts Exhibition and others. Regular member of the Japan Crafts Association. Focuses on colored glaze. (more…)

Naito Masayuki 内藤雅之

1945-maleStudied under Kato Shuntei. Sobriquet is Muryo. Built a kiln in Aichi Prefecture in 1975. Focuses on Shino ware, Setoguro (black Seto) ware, and Oribe ware. Has held exhibitions at Ginza Matsuzakaya and is a member of the Teiyo-kai association. (more…)

Torii Yoshinobu 鳥井義信

1925-malekaratsu potteryFrom Taku City, Saga Prefecture. Worked in coal and started the revival of traditional Taku-Karatsu ware in 1968. Has been selected for and won prizes at the Kyushu Yamaguchi Exhibition, the Japan Ceramics Exhibition, the Issui-kai Exhibition, and the Japan Traditional Crafts Exhibition. Focuses on Karatsu ware, tenmoku ceramics, and ceramics that undergo color variation during firing. (more…)

Torazawa Hideo 虎沢英雄

1935-malehanno potteryFrom Toki City. Trained at the Toki Ceramics Research Institute. Studied under Hineno Sakuzo and Kato Jin. Became the fifth-generation Mino Beni-gama in 1973. Revived Hanno-gama Kiln in Saitama in 1975. Has won the Prime Minister’s Prize at the Saitama Ceramics Exhibition, etc. Has been selected for the Asahi Ceramics Exhibition, the Japan Traditional Crafts Exhibition, and others. Focuses on celadon porcelain, ash glaze, and turquoise blue glaze. (more…)

Toyoyama Akihiro 豊山彬紘

1942-maleGraduated from the Tokyo University of Education (today Tsukuba University) with a major in craft and industrial design, and also completed the non-degree graduate course in the same field. Studied under Miyanohara Ken and Satonaka Hideto. Set up Toyoyama Studio independently in 1965. Has been selected for and won prizes at the Japan Ceramics Design Exhibition, the Yagi Kazuo Prize Ceramics Exhibition, and French art exhibitions, and has won the Enba International Prize. Is the chairman of Baku Pottery. Has held consecutive solo exhibitions at Yokohama Takashimaya. Lecturer in the ceramics department of Tama Art University. Focuses on ceramics with (more…)

Toyofuku Makoto 豊福誠

1953-maleFrom Kagoshima. Graduated from the Tokyo University of Arts and the Tokyo University of Arts Graduate School. Tutored at the same university. Has been selected for and won prizes at the Japan Traditional Crafts Exhibition, the New Works Exhibition, the Musashino Exhibition, etc. Has held solo exhibitions at Pottery Matsuoka in Shibuya, Ikebukuro Seibu, and elsewhere. Focuses on overglaze enamels. (more…)

Toyofuku Hiroshi 豊福寛

1939-malebizen potteryBorn in Incheon and returned to Okayama after the war. Graduated from Okayama Industrial High School. Spent time in a brick company before training at Kaneshige Riuemon’s Kaneshigeri Toen pottery in 1964. Set up independently in 1975 and built a kiln in Bizen in 1977. Has been selected for and won prizes at the Japan Traditional Crafts Exhibition, the Branch Exhibition, etc. Has held solo exhibitions at Ikebukuro Seibu and elsewhere. (more…)

Toyoba Seiya 豊場惺也

1942-malemino potteryGraduated from Nagoya City Industrial Arts High School. Apprentice of Arakawa Toyozo, and one of the few potters along with Nakayama Naoki and Yoshida Yoshihiko to have received direct instruction from him. Trained at Suigetsugama kiln for 14 years. Built a climbing kiln and a cave kiln in Ogaya in 1974. Unaffiliated. Focuses on Karatsu and Shino ware and kohiki (white powdered-looking ceramics). (more…)

Toyoda Katsuhiko 豊田克彦

1945-malemino potteryFrom Daigo, Kuji District, Ibaraki Prefecture. Graduated from Tamagawa University with a major in ceramics. Spent time in potteries for Shigaraki ware before training at Katojuemongama Kiln in Ogaya, Mino. Went to Kasama in 1973 and started a kiln independently. Focuses on Shino ware and makes tea bowls and tableware in the grey and decorated Shino styles. (more…)

Toyoda Ikkei 豊田一景

1935-maleakahada potteryReal name is Junnosuke. Studied under Onishi Rakusai of Kohakugama in Yamatokoriyama. Later started making Akahada ware, one of Enshu’s Seven Kilns, in Gjozangama kiln. Has been active in ceramics for over 30 years. Focuses on solo exhibitions and makes tea utensils and ceramics engraving. Has held many solo exhibitions at Mitsukoshi. (more…)