Japanese potters

Tomobe Machi 知部真千

1919-?femaleFrom Higashikunisaki District, Oita Prefecture. Kawai Seitoku’s elder sister. Entered ceramics from craft and textile designs and won a prize at the Kyoto City Exhibition. Is part of the Free Art Association for oil painting and the Japan League of Sculptors for sculpture, and has won the Nikikai Prize. Completed training at the Kyoto Industrial Research Institute in 1960 and set up independently after that. Has been selected for the New Ceramic Artists’ Exhibition and others. Focuses on solo exhibitions. Does inlay work and blue-and-white ceramics. (more…)

Tomonari Kiyoshi 友成潔

1942-maleFrom Shizuoka Prefecture. Studied under Yamada Hikaru, a Sodeisha member. Went to Taｍba and Mashiko and built a kiln in Hikoma, Tochigi Pefecture in 1974. Has won the Modern Art Association Honorable Mention, the Sculpture Department Award, etc. His works have been displayed in the Exhibition of Selected Modern Art by the Ministry of Cultural Affairs, the Japan Ceramics Exhibition, the Tochigi Prefecture Exhibition of Current Art, and elsewhere. Member of the Modern Art Association. Does 3D modeling. (more…)

Tomoeda Kansui 友枝観水

1946-maletakatori potteryGraduated from Kokura High School in Fukuoka Prefecture. Completed training at the Tochigi Prefecture Ceramics Training Center. Opened Uchigaisogama Kiln for Takatori ware in 1972. Selected for and won prizes in the prefectural exhibition, the West Japan Craft Exhibition, etc. Has held solo exhibitions in Kitakyushu Murakami and Kokura Izutsuya. (more…)

Tomehara Nobuo 止原伸郎

1946-2012malehagi potteryFrom Kyoto. Graduated from the ceramics course in Fushimi Technical High School. Learned the fundamentals from Morino Kako and Taimei, and became a student of Yoshika Daibi in 1973 to learn about Hagi-style tea bowls. Built a climbing kiln in 1976 and named it Tsuchiwagama. Won the Yamaguchi Prefecture Exhibition Merit Award and the Hagi City Exhibition City Council Chairman’s Award. Specially selected for the Flower Vessel Exhibition. Won the Education Minister’s Prize in the West Japan Ceramics Exhibition, etc. Selected for the Kyushu Yamaguchi Exhibition and the Choza Prize Exhibition. (more…)

Tomiyama Yumeya 冨山夢也

1950-maleReal name is Yoshio. From Tsuge, Iga. Graduated from Kyoto University. Completed the specialized course at the Kyoto Pottery Training School. Studied under Eiraku Zengoro (XVI). Established Tsumiegama Kiln in Iga in 1979. In 1986, he held the first solo exhibition of funerary urns at Kokyoan in Tatatsuki; this was reported on by various media outlets and drew a response. He has named the urns he creates “Seizan” (trademark application in process). Focuses on celadon porcelain, tenmoku ceramics and ash glaze. (more…)

Tomimoto Toshihiro 富本敏裕

1959-maletokoname potteryHis works were exhibited in and selected for the 15th Choza Prize Ceramics Exhibition for the first time. He held his first solo exhibition in Nagoya in 1986. Focuses on objects of art. (more…)

Tomimoto Taiji 冨本泰二

1939-maletokoname potteryFocuses on avant-garde ceramics and objects of art. Has been selected for Chunichi International Exhibition, and won the Governor’s Prize. Has been selected for the Asahi Ceramics Prize. Won the Choza Prize Ceramics Exhibition Honorable Mention, the Choza Prize, and has been selected, etc. Made the ceramic walls of the Tokoname City Museum of Folk Customs and other works. (more…)

Tominaga Yasuo 冨永保雄

1946-malekaratsu potteryFrom Fukuoka Prefecture. Became a student of Eguchi Sozan from Karatsu in 1969 and made ceramics. Moved to Susenji in Fukuoka City in 1984 and founded Genyogama Kiln. Has been selected for and won awards at the Fukuoka City Exhibition, the Prefecture Exhibition, the West Japan Crafts Exhibition, the Chikuho Art Exhibition, the Kyushu Ceramics Exhibition, the West Japan Ceramics Exhibition, and the Japan Traditional Crafts Exhibition. Member of the Fukuoka Prefecture Art Association. Focuses on hakeme (ceramics with a brush-mark pattern) and ash glaze. (more…)

Tominaga Osamu 富永脩

1916-?maleStudied under Kiyomizu Rokubey VI. Later made pottery in Miki, Hyogo Prefecture. Focuses on vases and tea utensils with glazing and colored glaze. Has been selected for the Japan Fine Arts Exhibition, the Japan Modern Crafts Exhibition, and others. Won the Kansai Exhibition Prize at the Kansai Art Exhibition, the Merit Award at the Kyoto City Exhibition, etc. Has held many solo exhibitions. (more…)

Tomita Kojiro 富田幸治郎

1932-malekyo potteryFrom Kyoto. Learned from Kiyomizu Rokubey VI and Morino Kako. Inherited his family business. Received a prize from a newspaper company at the Kofukai Exhibition. Won the Governor’s Prize in the Kyoto Prefecture Exhibition, and had his works procured by the Kyoto local government. Won the Mayor’s Prize in the Kansai Art Exhibition and the Yomiuri Television Prize, and is a judge. Won the Newcomer Prize in the Sankikai Exhibition, as well as the Member Prize and Committee Member Prize, and is a judge. Focuses on celadon porcelain, white porcelain, and cinnabar. (more…)

Tomatsu Nobuhiko 外松信彦

1953-maleFrom Tokyo. Graduated from the Department of Literature at Kokugakuin University. Became a student of Aoki Shokichi from Hachijo Island in 1977 and began to make pottery. Went to Mashiko in 1984 and set up the Kaiengama kiln independently. Has held collective exhibitions with Hachijo Pottery in Minamiaoyama Green G and two-person exhibitions with Sumiya Kazuyo in Roppongi Ceramics Salon, and has held his first solo exhibition. (more…)

Nakagawa Rokyaku 中川鷺脚

late edo period-rokyaku potterymaleIn 1877, Nakagawa Yujiro (year of birth and death unknown) of Himeji, Hyogo Prefecture entered ‘Eiseisha’, a company succeeding in Tozan-ware from Himeji, and studied pottery under Shibata Okyaku. Later in 1881, he became independent in Koshomachi, Himeji City under the name of Nakagawa Rokyaku.Things like hand-formed teapots, tea implements and vases, were fired using clay from Itohiki Village Kaneda, and Nanga mountain water landscapes and crabs etc., were used as decorations. It is known as Rokyaku ware. (more…)

Okamoto Johachi 8th 八代 岡本定八

1928-maleiga potteryJohachi, the purveyor of Todo Takasada, the feudal lord of the Meiwa clan, was the first potter of the kiln. He is the eighth generation to inherit the style of Iga ware. Awarded a prize at the Mie Prefectural Exhibition. Awarded the Gold Prize at the Political and Business World Art Salon Exhibition. Made mainly flower pottery and vases. (more…)

Imura Hikojiro 井村彦次郎

? -1897maleyokohama porcelainfocused on the fact that the painting of ceramics for export that was being done in Tokyo at the start of the Meiji era was flourishing. He transported materials from the Nobi region to Yokohama, and around 1875 (year 8 of the Meiji era) he gathered talented artists and materials from each region, and established a factory in Yokohama that specialized in over-glazing. Initially, after establishing the first factory in Onoe Town, Yokohama, it grew steadily and developed into a large export company with a total of four factories such as in Aioi Town and Tokiwa Town. Together (more…)

Nikko Inc. ニッコー株式会社

1908-Nikko is a long-standing ceramic and porcelain tableware company that mainly produces western tableware. The company’s head office is located in Hakusan City, Ishikawa Prefecture. Before the war, tableware for exportation had “NIPPON” or “JAPAN” marks on them. After the war, they had “JAPAN” or “Occupied Japan” marks. It appears that the tableware sold domestically did not have the “NIPPON” and “JAPAN” marks. (more…)

Tomatsu Kazunori 戸松万典

1940-malemino potteryReal name is Kazunori (written with different characters). From Toki City. Graduated from Tajimi Technical High School. Learned from Ohashi Momonosuke and Kobayashi Bunichi. Set up independently in 1971. Won the 1976 and 1977 Asahi Ceramics Prizes. His works have been selected for the Japan Ceramics Exhibition and procured by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Selected for the Japan Fine Arts Exhibition, the Japan Modern Crafts Exhibition, Chunichi International Exhibition, the Japan New Crafts Exhibition, and others. Focuses on iron glaze, Shino ware, and gray Shino ware. (more…)

Tobii Takashi 飛井隆司

1941-maleoribe potteryFrom Kasugai City. Graduated from the Aichi Prefecture Ceramics Training School. Selected for the Asahi Ceramics Exhibition, the Tokai Branch Traditional Arts Exhibition, etc. Focuses on Oribe ware. (more…)

Dohi Man 土肥満

1933-maleFrom Yokohama City. Graduated from Tokyo University of the Arts. Served as a technical officer at the Nagoya National Industrial Research Institute, and became a student of Dohi Tosen from Chiba in 1962. Specially selected for the Japan Fine Arts Exhibition, and is an association member. Won first prize at the Japan New Crafts Exhibition, as well as the Fuji Television Prize and the Member Effort Prize, and is a committee member and judge. Member of the Chiba Art Association. Executive director of the prefectural and city art associations. Member of the City Committee on Cultural Assets. Regular member of (more…)

Kubo Soshun 1st 初代 久保祖舜

1841-1921maleyashima potteryIn year eight of the Meiji era, a potter originated Kankake-ware in Shodoshima, the origins of which are said to be Gennai-ware, which was originated by Hiraga Gennai. Using soft clay in the style of Raku-ware, it is characterized by its dark brown/dark green glaze.Also, the kiln was moved to Takamatsu in year 38 of the Meiji era, and the previous Kankake-ware was improved and Cochin-style (Kankakei-ware or Soshun-ware) pottery was made and sold as a specialty of the area. Later on it was also renamed Yashima-ware (Different from the Mitani family). After the death of Komakichi, his child (more…)

Tohi Benie 土肥紅繪

1935-femaleFrom Chiba City. Graduated from Tokyo University of the Arts with a major in Japanese painting. Worked as a designer for Narumi Pottery and returned to her hometown in 1962. Made pottery with her father Tosen. Specially selected for the Japan Modern Women Artists’ Dolls Exhibition. Received the Yomiuri Newspaper Prize, the Prefectural Exhibition Governor’s Prize, the Prefectural Exhibition Prize, etc. Won the Women’s Ceramic Arts First Prize. Member of the Women’s Ceramic Arts Association and the Chiba Arts Association. Director and judge in the prefectural and city art associations. Focuses on objects of art, porcelain frames, earthen figures, and (more…)