Japanese potters

Ohnaka Kentaro 大中乾太郎

1953-maleGraduated from the Faculty of Art, Kyushu Sangyo University. Studied under Mizokami Hideji in Karatsu. Built a kiln in Kurume, Fukuoka Prefecture in 1985, and had his first solo exhibition in his hometown. Awarded at the Japan New Craft Exhibition, the Kyushu New Craft Exhibition, the Koufukai Exhibition, and the Seibu Craft Exhibition. Specializes in brush strokes with decorative clay, Mishima hand, and scraping off with color pigments. (more…)

Otsuka Chuji 大塚忠治

1945-malemashiko potteryLearned design, molding, and glazing at the Nagoya National Institute of Technology for three years. Built a kiln independently in Mashiko, Tochigi Prefecture in 1971. Awarded at the Musashino Traditional Craft Exhibition and the New Work Exhibition and the Japan Traditional Craft Exhibition. (more…)

Otsuka Kiyoharu 大塚清治

1951-malemashiko potteryBorn in Mashiko. Entered the Tochigi Prefectural Pottery Training Institute in 1973. Studied under Mimura Zenzo. Built his own kiln in Mashiko in 1977. Held a solo exhibition at Shinbaba in Mashiko. Made vases, tea ceremony utensils, coffee cups and plates, and morinu (small cups and plates). (more…)

Otsuka Shigeo 大塚茂夫

1948-malemashiko potteryJoined Mashiko Tsukamoto Pottery. Built the kiln in 1978. Awarded the Crafts Division of the Kokugakai (Japan Folk Art Association), the Japan Mingeikan (Japan Folk Crafts Exhibition), and the Maeda Prize of the Kokugakai (Japan Ceramic Society). Solo exhibitions in Osaka Daimaru, Toyama Mingei no Hakata and other places in Japan His works are mainly decorative glazes, ash glazes, and iron glazes. (more…)

Otsuka Sadao 大塚貞夫

1933-malemashiko potteryBorn in Motegi-cho. When he was a student, he was fascinated by Hamada Shoji and decided to pursue a career in ceramics. His work was selected for the Tochigi Prefecture Art Festival. Held a 30 year anniversary exhibition for parents and children at the Mashiko Town Cooperative Center. Mainly works with inlaid Jomon motifs. (more…)

Ohtsuka Kenichi 大塚健一

1948-2016malemashiko potteryBorn in Mashiko. He studied under Sakuma Toutarou in 1966, and in 1973 he became independent in this area and built his own kiln. His work has been selected for the Tochigi Prefecture Art Festival and the New Traditional Craft Exhibition. He had a solo exhibition at Shibuya Seibu and other group exhibitions around the country. Made mainly neriage tableware. (more…)

Otsu Housen 大津豊泉

1929-2003maleseto potteryBuilt a Hishino kiln in Kamagehora and in the area where the remains of the old Akashige kiln were scattered, and made tea ceremony utensils and flower vases. Awarded a prize at the Seto City Exhibition, Honorable Mention and Second Prize at the Japan Federation of Arts and Craftsmen’s Association General Exhibition, the Hokkoku Newspaper Award at the All Japan Arts and Crafts Exhibition, the Kyoto General Art Academy Award at the same exhibition, and the Mayor of Kyoto Prize at the Japan General Art Exhibition. Vice-chairman of the Seto Traditional Ceramic Society. Member of the All Japan Artists (more…)

Otsu Norio 大津範生

1947-maleseto potteryStudied under Kato Sho. He joined the Seto Ceramics Society in 1972, and became ambitious with abstract works. His work has won the Chunichi Prize of the Kofukai, the Honorable Mention of the City Exhibition, and was selected for the Nitten exhibition, among others. (more…)

Otani Seizan 大谷青山

1949-hagi potteryStudied under Yamato Shoroku 2nd. Awarded prizes at the Modern Craft Exhibition and local exhibitions. Aiming for a new frontier in Hagi ware. (more…)

Otani Shiro 大谷司朗

1936-maleshigaraki potteryPen-name is Otani Mugen. Graduated from Konan High School in Shiga Prefecture. Graduated from the Kyoto Institute of Industrial Arts. Studied under Kiyomizu Kyubey and Shimizu Uichi. Built a climbing kiln and anagama kiln in Koga, Shiga Prefecture in 1973. Won prizes at the Japan Traditional Craft Exhibition and other competitions. Solo exhibitions at Nihombashi, Osaka Takashimaya, Ikebukuro, Yurakucho Seibu, and others. Lectured at universities in various states in the United States. A regular member of Japan kogei association. (more…)

Ota Minoru 太田實

1872-?maleWestern-style painter. In 1977, he was in the spotlight at the exhibitions at Mitsukoshi Department Store in Nihonbashi and Osaka Mitsukoshi. His studio is located on the sixth floor of a building that used to be a merchant’s house in Osaka’s wholesale district. His firing was done in the Shigaraki and Mino kilns. The style of work is old Momoyama pottery. (more…)

Ota Horo 太田甫朗

1932-?malebizen potteryBorn in Osafune. The third son of the painter, Ota Shotaro. He was a relative of Fujiwara Kei. Since 1969, studied under using the works of Kei and Toyo Kaneshige. He built a kiln by himself in 1973. Motivated by firing Wakakusa-colored goma and melon skin, and Heki-bizen. Solo exhibitions in Tokyo and other places. (more…)

Ota Tomio 太田富夫

1949-malebizen potteryBorn in Oku County. He studied under Uragami Zenji. In 1973, he built his own kiln. In 1976, he built a climbing kiln and named it Wakamiya-gama, after a local shrine deity. Renovated the kiln to an ascending kiln capable of filling 3,000 pieces in 1981. Apprenticed at the Prefectural Ceramic Art Center. Selected for the prefectural exhibition and the Traditional Craft Association Chugoku Branch Exhibition. Awarded the Genga-kai Honorable Mention and the Bi-gei-kai Sanyo Newspaper Award. Exhibition at Mitsukoshi Department Store in Nihonbashi, Osaka Kintetsu and others. His brother is also a Bizen artist, Ota Atsushi. (more…)

Ota Toshihide 太田俊英

1938-?malekutani porcelainActive in pottery painting in the style of Yoshidaya at Terai, where Kutani ware is thriving. He made his debut at the Contemporary Art Exhibition in 1973 when he was awarded a prize. Since then, he has won prizes at the New Kutani Ceramic Art Exhibition, Japan Contemporary Craft Exhibition, Japan New Craft Exhibition, and the Nitten exhibition. (more…)

Ota Takahiro 太田孝宏

1942-malekoishiwara potteryHe has inherited the tradition of the folk kiln and creates pottery with his father Kumao. Awarded the Prefectural Governor’s Prize at the Prefectural Exhibition, the Japan Mingeikan Prize, the West Japan Ceramics Competition Governor’s Prize, the Japan Ceramic Art Exhibition Prize, and many others. Director of the Prefectural Artist’s Association. Committee member of the judging committee for the prefectural exhibition. (more…)

Ota Shigeki 太田成喜

1944-2007malekoishiwara potteryBorn in Koishiwara. Graduated from Waseda University. Awarded the Honorable Mention at the Japan Folk Art Exhibition, the Iwataya Prize at the Denso Exhibition, the Grand Prize at the Japan Folk Art Exhibition, the Prime Minister’s Prize at the Japan Folk Art Exhibition, the Nishi Nippon Television West Award at the West Japan Folk Art Exhibition, the Governor’s Prize at the West Japan Folk Art Exhibition, and many others. (more…)

Ota Keizo 太田慶三

1950-2001malekasama potteryBorn in Tokyo. Graduated from Musashino Art University in 1966, majoring in ceramics. Trained at the Ibaraki Prefecture Kasama Ceramic Art Training Institute in 1968. Awarded many prizes at the Japan Ceramics Exhibition and the New Traditional Crafts Exhibition and the Japan Traditional Crafts Exhibition. Solo exhibitions at Isetan Shinjuku and Takashimaya in Yokohama. Mainly works in gray and black glaze and iron painting. A regular member of the Japan Artisans Society. (more…)

Ota Kumao 太田熊雄

1912-1992malekoishiwara potteryHe was born in Koishiwara, the ancient home of Japanese folk pottery. He was influenced by Yanagi Muneyoshi and Hamada Shoji and devoted to folk art. Awarded the Kyusyu-Yamaguchi Folk Art Exhibition Association Prize, the Minister of Education’s Award at the Prefectural Exhibition, the Brussels Expo Grand Prix, the Japan Folk Art Museum Prize, and others. He has served as a judge of the Japan Folk Art Museum. (more…)

Ohta Itaru 大田至

1948-maleGraduated from the Department of Management Engineering, Tokyo University of Technology in 1972. Opened a kiln in Chichibu in 1950. Awarded the Governor’s Prize at the Saitama Prefectural Exhibition, Special Selection at the Saitama Prefectural Exhibition, and others. Selected for the Japan Ceramic Art Exhibition, the New Traditional Craft Exhibition, and the Japan Traditional Craft Exhibition. Pursues a fresh sense of decoration with stamp. (more…)

Oshima Hisaoki 大嶋久興

1939-malemino potteryOribe, Kizeto and Kohiki are his main works. Graduated from Gifu Prefectural Pottery Experiment Station in 1967. Awarded the Nagano Prefectural Governor’s Prize at the Asahi Ceramic Art Exhibition, the Chuunichi Ceramic Art Exhibition and other prizes, and was selected for the Tokai Traditional Craft Exhibition and other prizes. The production of ceramic boards for the binding of Kumagai Morikazu’s works has been a hot topic. (more…)