Japanese potters

Kokubo Tamotsu 小久保

1920-?malehagi potteryBuilt a kiln in Higashi-Inatori (Ichiho Kiln, Shirada Isobe, Higashiizu, Kamo District, Shizuoka Prefecture). Close friends with famed Kyo-ware ceramist Yagi Kazuo, and thus made Jun-ware, Shirahagi glazed, iron glazed and kainei-style ceramics that were influenced by Yagi’s work. Selected for the New Traditional Crafts Exhibition, others. (more…)

Kokubun Hidenori 国分英徳

1943-maleBorn in Koriyama, Fukushima prefecture. Studied under Karasugi Somitsu starting in 1971. Built a kiln in Yama, Fukuoka Prefecture in 1980. As an attempt to start from scratch, it was named the Ichi-ni-san (1-2-3) kiln. Primarily produced ceramics through combining clay from the foot of Mt Bandai with local wood ash and straw ash. Recipient of the Tokokai National Exhibition Honorable Mention, Effort Award, others. Member of Toko. (more…)

Koyama Yasuhisa 神山易久

1936-maleshigaraki potteryHusband of Koyama Kiyoko. Born in Koyama. Graduated from Prefectural Ceramics Guidance Center. Studied under Hineno Sakuzo. Built Shigaraki’s first sub-ground hole kiln in 1969 with a focus on natural glazing. Built another hole kiln in Kaseyama to research Sue ceramics in 1976, a single-chamber hole kiln (Iorikama) in 1977, two double-chamber hole kilns in 1980 and 1982, and a single-chamber hole kiln. (more…)

Koyama Naohiko 神山直彦

1953-maleshigaraki potteryBorn in Koyama, Shigaraki-cho. Graduated from Shigaraki Ceramics Research Institute. Studied under Kuroroku Mashimazu. Built his first hole kiln in 1976 and went independent. Participant and award recipient at the Japan Traditional Crafts Exhibition, Japanese Ceramics Exhibition, Chunichi International Exhibition, others. Held many solo exhibitions at Seibu Ikebukuro, others. Primarily focused on ash glaze, celadon and yakishime. Member of the Japan Kogei Association. (more…)

Koyama Kenichi 神山賢一

1961-1992maleshigaraki potteryEldest son of Koyama Kiyoko. Graduated from Shigaraki Technical High School in Shiga prefecture and later from the Shigaraki Ceramics Research Institute. Held solo exhibitions at Osaka Hanshin. Primarily produced ceramics made with natural glaze, yakishime (thermal densification) and yohen glaze. Also skilled with tenmoku. (more…)

Koyama Kiyoko 神山清子

1936-2023femaleshigaraki potteryBorn in Sasebo, Nagasaki prefecture. In 1953 he studied painting under Nakajima Kenju in Shigaraki. Later studied Ogata-Kenzan ceramics as well as blue-white ceramics under Eijiro Yoshitake in Kyoto, then worked under Misaka Kakuzo in 1963 with the aim of creating his own ceramics. Build the Shigaraki sub-ground hole kiln and the Sungoe kiln, as well as the Kochinobe kiln in Echigo. Selected for the Women’s Ceramics Exhibition, Asahi Ceramics Exhibition, others. Held solo exhibitions at Nihonbashi Mitsukoshi, Ginza Kuroda Toen, Kyoto Municipal Museum of Art, others. Appeared widely in print and on television. (more…)

Koyama Kaoru 神山薫

1950-femaleBorn in Saitama prefecture. Studied under Koyama Yasuhisa. Selected for the Japan Craft Exhibition, others. Held solo exhibitions at Matsuya Ginza, Akasaka G Gen, others. (more…)

Kono Akira 河野昭

1948-maleBorn in Yamanashi prefecture. Created ceramics for commercial designs. Studied under avant-garde Sato Satoshi in Kyoto. Went independent in 1977. Member of Japan Kogei Association. (more…)

Kono Akira 河野章

1945-2015malekasama potteryGraduated from Waseda University. Studied under Nakano Akitsugu in Kasama. Built a kiln in 1973. Selected for the New Traditional Crafts Exhibition, others. Solo exhibitions at Odakyu Shinjuku, Chiba G Rokuro, Osaka Horindo. Primarily focused on carbonization, iron inlay, kohiki, and blue-white ceramics. (more…)

Kozuru Jun 高鶴淳

1940-maleagano potterySecond son of Natsuyama. Studied under Sakata Mukka in Hagi. Opened a wood-fired kiln in 1970. Recipient of the Seibu Crafts Exhibition Branch Manager Award, Asahi Newspaper Award, Fukuoka Prefectural Exhibition Art Association Award, others. Selected for the Japan Traditional Crafts Exhibition, others. Member of the Japan Kogei Association. Held solo exhibitions at Fukuoka Iwataya, Izutsuya Kokura, others. (more…)

Kozuru Hajjime 高鶴元

1938-maleagano potteryEldest son of Natsuyama. Graduated from Arita Technical High School. Built a kiln in Kasuya, Fukuoka Prefecture in 1970. Traveled to the United States with his family in 1980 and built in kiln in Boston that is still in use. Recipient of the Japan Traditional Crafts Exhibition Chairman’s Award, Agency for Cultural Affairs Award, Japan Ceramic Society Award, others. Member of Japan Kogei Association. (more…)

Kozuru Kazan 高鶴夏山

1914-1986agano potteryPrimarily focused on teaware, making best use of traditional Agano ceramics along with modern influences. Selected for Nitten and Japan Contemporary Crafts Exhibition. Recipient of the Fukuoka Prefecture Exhibition Honorable Mention Award, Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology Honorable Mention, Prefectural Governor Award, Seibu Craft Exhibition Honorable Mention Award, others. Member of the Prefectural Art Association. (more…)

Kosaka Hiroshi 高坂弘

1944-malebizen potteryGraduated from Bizen Prefectural High School and then Okayama University, where he later became a lecturer in the Bizen High Ceramics Department. Built a kiln in Honami in 1972. Learned to make teaware in the Omotesenke style as well as flower arrangement in the Senkeiryu style. Selected for prefectural exhibitions, Japan Kogei Association East Chugoku Branch Exhibition, others. (more…)

Kozai Miki 香西三樹

1949-malebizen potteryBorn in Kurashiki, Okayama Prefecture. Motivated by a fascination with Bizen-ware ceramics, he joined Kimura Toshoen at Inbe in 1965. Studied under Kadono Tsukasa. After an eight-year apprenticeship, studied under Nishikawa Masami. Established a jyogama (castle kiln) in his hometown in 1975. (more…)

Koinuma Michio 肥沼美智雄

1936-maleBorn in Ome. Graduated from Osaka University. Studied diligently with Narii in Mashiko. Went independent and built a kiln in 1970. Recipient of the Kita-Kanto Art Exhibition Excellent Award and others. Participated in the Nikka Contemporary Ceramics Exhibition (sponsored by the National Museum of Japanese History in Taipei) and the Japanese Ceramics Exhibition in Hong Kong. Held many solo exhibitions at Tobu Ikebukuro, others. (more…)

Koide Yoshihiro 小出芳子弘

1941-maletokoname potteryRecipient of the Choza Award Ceramics Exhibition Honorable Mention, etc. Also selected for the Chunichi International Ceramics Exhibition, Asahi Ceramics Exhibition, Tokai Traditional Crafts Expedition, Japanese Ceramics Exhibition, and Chubu Yomiuri Art Exhibition. Primarily focused on using the traditions of Tokoname-ware to make green tea utensils, tableware, and decorative ceramics. 常滑市塩田町4-52 (more…)

Koizumi Junsaku 小泉淳作

1924-2012maleBorn in Kamakura. Graduated from the Japanese painting department of Tokyo Fine Arts School. Studied under Koshiro Kujiro, an assistant to Tomimoto Kenkichi, where he began making ceramics. Established Juniso in 1965. Invited as guest of honor along with the revered Nakagawa Kazumasa and Takiguchi Kihei of Ogaya. Focused on a variety of ceramics such as irabo, kizeto, Shino, blue-white, and richo. (more…)

Koie Ryoji 鯉江良二

1938- 2020maletokoname potteryRyoji is an author known as a potter who has produced a great number of abstract works and who continues to gain recognition not just in Japan, but globally. He holds exhibitions in Japan and all over the world.He uses materials and techniques for his works that are utterly different and unique. The appeal of his dynamic and yet subtle style is its constant creative urge, pursuing the possibilities of what can be made from clay and fire. At the same time, his touch can also be felt in his smaller works, such as tableware, and his fans (more…)

Koie Hiroshi 鯉江廣

1955-maletokoname potteryBorn in Tokoname, Aichi prefecture. Graduated from the Tokoname High Ceramics Department and Seto High Ceramics Department. Studied under his father Reiko starting in 1975. Recipient of the Tokai Traditional Crafts Exhibition Nagoya Board of Education Award, Chunichi International Exhibition Honorable Mention, Choza Award, Honorable Mention, others. Selected for the Japan Traditional Crafts Exhibition, others. Regular member of the Japan Kogei Association. Primarily focused on vermilion clay and kiln black ceramics. (more…)

Koie Toshihiro 鯉江敏弘

1952-maletokoname potteryStudied under Kato Yoshiaki. Along with receiving the Foreign Minister’s Award at the Chunichi International Ceramics Exhibition for a masterpiece of collaborative production, also produced similarly collaborative work for the Choza Award Ceramics Exhibition. (more…)