Japanese potters

Kudo Takao 工藤孝生

1937-maleBorn in Aomori prefecture. Dropped out of Musashino Art University. Studied under Yanagi Sori, a son of Yanagi Soetsu, learning from Tajimi and Mashiko. Established, in 1968, the St. Paul kiln built at St. Paul’s Academy in Onkata-cho in Hachioji. Founding member of the Showa Art Association. Primarily focused on ginkgo, mulberry and ash glazes. (more…)

Kudo Shoji 工藤省治

1934-2019maletobe porcelainBorn in Aomori prefecture. Began working at Tobe Baizan kiln in 1952. Worked independently for 49 years. Recipient of the Maruzen Craft Center Award. Exhibited at Nagoya International Design Competition, Faenza International Ceramics Competition, and the Moscow Japan Design Exhibition. Member of the Japan Craft Design Association. (more…)

Kutani Tsutae 久谷蔦枝

1952-femaleBorn in Toyama prefecture. Graduated from Tama Art University with a major in oil painting and completed a graduate degree. Began working in ceramics in 1974. Recipient of the Japan Ceramics Exhibition Mainichi Newspaper Award, etc. Exhibited at Toyama Prefectural Museum of Modern Art, Matsuya Ginza, and other special exhibition spaces. Solo exhibitions at Tokyo Gallery Yamaguchi and others. Active in the avant-garde. object art 22,500 JPY 滋賀県東浅井郡びわ町落合566 art.p-alpha.ne.jpKUTANI Tsutae　久谷 蔦枝 | ART/X/TOYAMA (more…)

Kuze Takesuke 久世武助

1936 – 2009?maleashiwara potteryBorn in Ashihara-cho, Fukui Prefecture. Graduated from Kanazawa College of Art. Received the Fukui City Mayor’s Prize at the prefectural exhibition, the Governor’s Prize, and the Fukui Broadcasting System Prize. Received the Nippu Exhibition Honorable Mention and is a member. Member of the Art Publishers Award at the Asia Exhibition. Member of the Fukui Prefecture Art Jury. Member of the Asia Art Association. Mainly works with underglaze red painting, cinnabar, and Jun Kiln glaze. (more…)

Kuze Kenji 久世建二

1945 – 2020maleBorn in Fukui prefecture. Graduated from Kanazawa College of Art. Selected for the first Japan Ceramics Exhibition and others. Exhibited at many overseas exhibitions including the Faenza International Ceramics Competition, winning the Tourism Bureau Director’s Award. Solo exhibitions at Echizen Awara-yaki Parent-Child Exhibition, Seibu Shibuya, Nagoya Sakura Gallery, Kyoto Gallery Maronie, and others. Primarily focused on ceramic modeling. (more…)

Kuze Kyuho 4th 四代 久世久宝

1925 – 2006malekyo potteryHusband of Kuho III. Graduated from Ritsumeikan University, followed by Kyoto Prefectural Ceramists’ Technical Institute. Studied under the second-generation Kuho, allowing him to inherit the name as third-generation family representative in 1974. Student of Chokai Nirakuko’s paintings, Urasenke-stye tea ceremonies, Saga Goryu flower arrangement, and Kanze-style Noh theater. Primarily focused on teaware using shozui, dyeing, and color painting. (more…)

Kusanagi Yojiro 草薙洋二郎

1952-maleAlso known as Kusanagi Hanchikuan the 2nd. Born in Edogawa-ku, Tokyo. Graduated from Chuo University. Studied under his father Hanchikuan. Selected for the Musashino Exhibition of Traditional Crafts. Member of Tokokai and Saitama Ceramics Association. Worked in pale-sea green Goryeo-ware while researching kilns of the Southern Song dynasty in order to master Chinese Jun-ware. Primarily the focus of solo exhibitions. (more…)

Kusanagi Hanchikuan 草薙榛竹庵

1924 – 2010maleBorn in Tokyo. Studied under Tomimoto Kenkichi. Experimented with raku (hand-molded earthenware) and Joseon dynasty-style ceramics, building a kiln in 1968. Produced teaware exclusively as authentic Shino-ware. Independent, primarily the focus of solo exhibitions. (more…)

Kusakabe Yoshitaka 日下部義高

1935-maleGraduated from Kanagawa University. Built a kiln in 1975 under the tutelage of Tanimoto Kosei. Selected for the New General Crafts Exhibition, where he received the Effort Award and joined as a member. Recipient of the Shizuoka Prefecture Chunichi/Tokyo Newspaper Award. Selected for the Japan Ceramics Exhibition, Japanese Traditional Crafts Exhibition, etc. (more…)

Kusakabe Teiko 日下部貞子

1938-femaleBuilt a noborigama (climbing kiln) in 1975 and went independent. Studied under Doa Satomi. Visited kilns in Western Europe and around Japan. Selected for the Women’s Ceramics Exhibition, Shizuoka Prefectural Exhibition, and Asia Exhibition. Recipient of the Asia Friendship Association Award, Effort Award, Sankei Newspaper Award, etc. (more…)

Kinjo Toshio 金城敏男

1935 – 2016maletsuboya potteryBorn in Naha. Eldest son of Kinjo Jiro, a living national treasure. Studied under his father, inheriting the tradition of yomitantsuboya-ware. Work takes advantage of the bright and generous climate particular to Okinawa, with dynamic fish patterns adorning the simple clay. Maintains the tradition of Ryukyu pottery handed down by his father. Father and son exhibition was held at Seibu Ikebukuro. (more…)

Kinjo Jiro 金城次郎

1912- 2004maletsuboya potteryliving national treasureBorn in Naha. Began working with ceramics at the age of 13, studying under Hamada Shoji. Later apprenticed at a kiln-equipped shop that produced ceramics typically representative of Okinawa. Went independent in 1972. Certified as a prefectural intangible cultural technology property holder for Okinawan ceramics. Recipient of the Okinawa Times Art Award, Japan Folk Art Museum Award, Kokugakai Exhibition Excellence Award, Modern Master Craftsman Exhibition Labor Minister’s Award, many others. Permanent installation at the Romanian National Folk Art Museum. Exhibited at the Japan Ceramics Masters Exhibition. The Okinawa Crafts Exhibition (sponsored by the National Museum of (more…)

Kimu Hono 金憲鎬

1958-maleKnown for a playful and heartfelt approach to ceramics. Recipient of the Choza Ceramics Exhibition New Face Award, etc. Selected for the Tokai Traditional Crafts Exhibition, Chunichi International Ceramics Exhibition, Asahi Ceramics Exhibition, and others. True student of all different styles and techniques. (more…)

Kiriyama Toshiko 桐山敏子

1947-femaleGraduated from Kwansei Gakuin University. Studied under Mori Ichizo in 1979. Recipient of the Arts and Crafts Association of Osaka President’s Award, Living Crafts Exhibition Award, etc. Selected for the Kyoto Craft Exhibition, Women’s Ceramics Exhibition, others. Primary focus on iron painting, dyeing, scraping and brushing. Member of the Arts and Crafts Association of Osaka. Affiliated with Ichihonokai. (more…)

Kiriyama Kingo 桐山均吾

1938-maleshino potteryPrimary worked with Shino and cinnabar. Recipient of the Gifu Art Exhibition First Chair, Prefectural Arts and Culture Special Honorable Mention, etc. Selected for the Japanese Traditional Kogei Exhibition, Tokai Traditional Crafts Exhibition, Asahi Ceramics Exhibition, Chunichi International Ceramics Exhibition, Japanese Ceramics Exhibition, etc. Member of the Tokai branch of the Japan Kogei Association. (more…)

Kiritani Junko 桐谷純子

1937-femaleBorn in Tokyo. Studied under Nagumo Ryu. Selected for the Issuikai Exhibition, Japan Ceramics Exhibition, Nichigen Kogyo Exhibition, and Chunichi International Exhibition. Participated in the Totokai conceived by Itaya Hazan in 1973. Solo exhibitions at Daimaru Tokyo, Akasaka Inui G, others. Ingenious expression of soil-like surface through folds and other techniques. (more…)

Kiyomizu Hisashi 清水久

1950-malekyo potteryGrandson of Kiyomizu Rokubey V. Graduated from ceramics studies at the Kyoto Municipal Institute of Industrial Technology. Introduced to Yagi Kazuo. Starting in 1968, participated in new craft-based ceramics. Winner of a prize at the Kyoto Craft Exhibition. (more…)

Kiyomizu Hiroshi 清水裕司

1936-maleBorn in Aichi prefecture. Graduated from Tokyo School of Fine Arts (currently Tokyo University of the Arts). Featured as a Nitten Special Selection. Recipient of the Hokuto Award and Commission, Ceramic Society Award, Prague Ceramics Exhibition Grand Prize, etc. Former Nitten member and judge. Former Nichigen consultant and judge. 京都市東山区五条橋東6-569 (more…)