Japanese potters

Saito Yoshio 斎藤四志男

1940-maleParticipant and award winner at the new traditional crafts exhibitions, others. Primarily focused on inlay red glaze, iron painting and gosu ceramics. (more…)

Saito Haruko 斎藤治子

1940-femaleBorn in Sado, Niigata prefecture. Studied under Idaka Kizan, second-generation head of the Kizan kiln in Tokyo. Primarily focused on persimmon glaze and iron painting. (more…)

Saito Takaro 斎藤鷹郎

1933-?maleStudied under Kawamura Seizan. Opened a kiln in 1965. Held solo exhibitions at Shinjuku Mitsukoshi, others. Primarily focused on mishima-de ceramics and carbonization. (more…)

Saito Naoaki 齋藤尚明

1950-maleAlso known as Saito Tosai the 2nd. Born in Niigata prefecture. Second son of Saito Saburo. After graduation from Komazawa University, studied under Takenaka Hiroshi in Kyoto. Went independent after returning home in 1979. Selected for the Japan Traditional Crafts Exhibition, others. Recipient of prefectural exhibition grand prizes, others. Held solo exhibitions at Yamato Joetsu, Mitsukoshi Niigata, Matsuya Ginza. Primarily focused on white porcelain, lapis lazuli, blue-white ceramics, color painting, gold inlay, and cinnabar. (more…)

Saito Tsutomu 斉藤勉

1936-?malearita porcelainGraduated from Saga Commercial School. Studied under his father-in-law Kazan. Built the Hitotsuchi kiln in Ureshino at Hizen Pottery Village, where porcelain painting was the main focus. Selected for Nitten, Chunichi International Exhibition, Japan Traditional Crafts Exhibition. Recipient of the Prefectural Exhibition Minister of Education Award, others. Member of Japan Kogei Association and Prefectural Ceramics Association. (more…)

Saito Takumi 斉藤巧

1938-maleStudied under Takai Hironari at the Kiyama kiln. Member of the Tohokukai, an annual ceramics exhibition at Shinjuku Odakyu. Participaated in Yosei Ichimon Exhibition at Persimmon G. Held solo exbitions at Ginza Owaricho G, others. Conducted ceramics classes for young people and adults in Meguro-ku in Tokyo. Presided over the ceramics class of the Ceramic Society beginning in 1986. (more…)

Saito Takashi 齋藤卓志

1952-maleGraduated from Nihon University in the Faculty of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine. Starting in 1976, studied in Kakunodate at the Koshio kiln under Noguchi Yasei, inheritor of the traditions of Shiraiwa-ware, Terauchi-ware and Taihaku-ware of the old Koshio kiln. Following the death of his teacher in 1980, Saito took over the Koshio kiln in the following year. (more…)

Saito Takashi 斎藤隆

1948-malebizen potteryBorn in Tokyo. Aspirations to make ceramics led him to train at the Kasama Ceramics Mentoring Center starting in 1976. Interest in Bizen-ware led him to study under Isezaki Jun there in 1978. Later made ceramics at Kagatomoto. Recipient of the Okayama Prefecture Exhibition Honorable Mention, others. Selected for the Ichimizukai Exhibition, Traditional Crafts East Chugoku Branch Exhibition, Chunichi International Exhibition, others. Particularly talented with hidasuki and youhen ceramics. (more…)

Saito Katsuyuki 斉藤勝行

1943-maleBegan making his own ceramics in 1976. Later built the Haguro kiln and went independent. Selected for the New Japan Traditional Crafts Exhibition and Musashino Exhibition. Primarily focused on flower vases and tableware made in hole kilns or noborigama (climbing kilns). (more…)

Saito Osamu 斎藤修

1952-malemashiko potteryBorn in Miyagi prefecture. Studied under Omiya Takato in Mashiko. Went independent in 1979. Selected for the Japan Traditional Crafts Exhibition. Recipient of the Miyagi Prefectural Arts Festival Prefectural Governor’s Award, others. Held solo exhibitions at Maruei Sendai and Takashimaya Nihonbashi. Primarily focused on inlay, ash glaze, engraving, celadon and iron glazing. (more…)

Saida Naoyasu 斎田直保

1920-?maletokoname potteryBorn in Tokoname, Aichi prefecture. Graduated from Ceramics Department at Tokoname Kogyo School. Worked for a ceramics company and later studied sculpture under Sakata Yoshinobu. Established the Shinmei kiln in 1976. Recipient of the Choza Award Ceramics Exhibition Honorable Mention, Choza Award, others. Selected for the Chunichi International Exhibition and the Tokai Traditional Crafts Exhibition. Focused primarily on oil drop ceramics. (more…)

Konno Haruo 今野春雄

1952-maleBorn in Kamaishi. Studied under Isezaki Mitsuru and Shibaoka Koichi in Bizen. Began working in Mashiko in 1972 and went independent from the kiln in 1976. Selected for the New Japan Traditional Crafts Exhibition and others. Primarily focused on urns, tableware and tataki large plates using ash glaze and yakishime interwoven with the Inbe style. (more…)

Kondo Hiroshi 近藤濶

1936-2012maleSecond son of Yuzo. Studied under his father. Primarily focused on blue-white ceramic production. Member of the Japan Kogei Association. Recipirent of the Shinshokai Exhibition Kyoto Newspaper Award, Tomimoto Award, Nagano Prefecture Exhibition Mayor’s Award, NHK Award, Selected for the Japan Traditional Crafts Exhibition with work purchased by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the House of Councilors. Participated in Seishokai. Work distributed widely overseas. (more…)

Kondo Tamao 近藤瑞男

1945-maleGraduated from Rikkyo University in the Faculty of Literature and completed graduate school at the same institution. Studied early modern Japanese theater. After working as a lecturer at Seisen University and Rikkyo University, became an assistant professor at Kyoritsu Women’s University. Studied under second generation head Idaka Kizan from 1972 onward. Member of the Ceramics Society presided over by the Kizan kiln. Developed a sense of design mainly through the medium of original ceramic figurines. (more…)

Kondo Seiko 近藤精宏

1945-maleBorn in Niigata prefecture. Dropped out of Musashino Art University. Introduced to ceramics by Koyama Fujio in 1971. Opened the Hanzawa kiln in Mino-Hanbara in 1975. Primarily focused on producing Kizeto, Karatsu, Iga ceramics using white background techniques (white background with iron spots, blue glaze, yellow glaze) in unique underground hole kilns, split bamboo noborigama (climbing kilns) and snake kilns. (more…)

Kondo Koji 近藤功次

1948-maleseto potteryBorn in Ichinomiya. Studied under Kato Shunto. Built a kiln in 1976. Participant and award winner in Nitten, Nisshin Engineering Exhibition, Asahi Ceramics Exhibition, others. Primarily focused on ash glaze (ofukai) and cinnabar (glazed red inlay). Member of Seto Tokai and Nisshin Koren (Tokai region). (more…)

Kondo Akira 近藤彰

1944-maleBegan making ceramics at the akashigegama (large red kiln) at the foot of Mt Sanage, which is famous for the remains of old Sanage kilns. Starting in 1970, built four kilns where he focused on ash glaze and natural glaze firing in hole kilns as well as Shino, Oribe, Karatsu, iron glaze, and other ceramic styles. Independent and unaffiliated. (more…)

Kon Chiharu 今千春

1951-maleshigaraki potteryBorn in Niigata prefecture. Graduated from Musashino Art University. Studied yukyuyaki under Okawa Tamijiro in Nagaoka. Built a sub-ground hole kiln and went independent in 1980. Later studied under Tsuji Kiyoaki at Iga and Shigaraki. Held solo exhibitions at Nagaoka G Navy, Niigata Hokukosha, Mitsukoshi, Shibuya Kuroda Toen. (more…)

Koyama Isso 2nd 二代 小山一草

1932-malebizen potteryReal name is Mitsuo. Eldest son of Koyama Gengo, pen name is Koyama Isso. Worked for a local brickmaking company but later studied ceramics craftsmanship under his father. Recipient of the Okayama Prefecture Exhibition Honorable Mention, Grand Prize, Bigeikai Sanyo Newspaper Award, Renten Japan Broadcasting Corporation Award. Selected for the Ichimizukai Exhibition (honorable mention), Traditional Crafts East Chugoku Branch Exhibition, Japanese Ceramics Exhibition, Chunichi International Exhibition and others. Manufactured the roof tiles used in the restoration of Shizutani Shrine and front gate tiles of Shizutani School. (more…)