Japanese potters

Kitagawa Shozan 北川祥山

1931-2006maleFrom Asahikawa. Aimed to make ceramics with the soil of Tokachi in 1967. Takahashi Tenmin gave the name of Yonahara-yu to the glaze he developed using volcanic ash in 1969. He then thrived at the Obihiro Craft Art Center, in international goodwill, and in a delegation to China. Member of the Hokkaido Pottery Society. Works focus on tea bowls. (more…)

Kita Rihei 13th 十三代 紀太理平

1942-1990malerihei potterySucceeded the tea bowl kiln commissioned by the feudal lord of the Takamatsu Domain. Studied Kyo ware under Ito Tozan in Kyoto. Succeeded the name of the 13th generation in 1968. Excels at black Koku-yu glaze with gold leaf.After the death of the 13th Rihei, his wife Yoko continues to run the kiln as the 14th Rihei. (more…)

Kita Riko 紀太理光

1947-maleBorn into the family of the kiln commissioned by the Kagawa clan and studied at the Kyoto Ceramic Training Institute. Young brother of Kita Rihei XIII. Became independent in 1975. Studied under Tezuka Hisashi and Kawai Seitoku. Works focus on tea bowls. (more…)

Kida Hiroyuki 木田弘之

1944-malekutani porcelainGraduated from the Government Industrial Research Institute in Nagoya in 1963. Selected for the Japan Fine Arts Exhibition, Japan Ceramic Art Exhibition, and other exhibitions. (more…)

Kishimoto Kenji 岸本謙仁

1934-malemino potteryFirst worked at the local ceramic factory and later became independent by starting a semisubterranean cellar kiln at the foot of Mount Mikuni in Kakino, Gifu. Selected for the Japanese Traditional Craft Art Exhibition, Japan Ceramic Art Exhibition, Asahi Ceramic Exhibition, Chunichi International Exhibition of Ceramic Arts, and other exhibitions. Served as the Director of the Nipputen Art Institute. Mainly creates tea bowls in the Shino ware and Kizeto ware styles. (more…)

Kishimoto Kyoichi 岸本恭一

1941-maleGraduated from the Tokyo University of Education. Made ceramics in the Tokyo University of the Arts Ceramics Laboratory. Started a kiln in 1972. Later became a visiting professor at Universidad Veracruzana in Mexico and participated in the founding of Toluca Ceramic School, becoming the first schoolmaster and honorary schoolmaster. Selected for the Japanese Traditional Craft Art Exhibition and other exhibitions. Works focus on celadon and white porcelain. (more…)

Kishi Michio 岸道生

1946-malehanno potteryGraduated from Tokyo Denki University. Became an apprentice of Munakata Ryoichi in Aizu Hongo in 1975 in an attempt to revive Hanno ware and started the Hanno ware Hasoai kiln in Hanno in 1982. Selected for the Japan Folk Crafts Museum Exhibition, Japan Ceramic Art Exhibition, and other exhibitions. Works focus on Hai-yu ash glaze and Tetsu-yu iron glaze. (more…)

Kishi Noritsugu 岸憲嗣

1958-maleFrom Yokkaichi, Mie. Graduated from Musashino Art University. Started a kiln and became independent in 1984. Selected for the Japan Craft Exhibition and Kyoto Craft Exhibition. Held private exhibitions in Ginza and other venues. Works focus on inlay work and overglaze. (more…)

Kishi Enzan 岸園山

1927-malebanko potteryReal name is Koji. Studied under his father Enzan. Selected for the First Yokkaichi City Exhibition and Mie Prefectural Exhibition and a judge for both exhibitions. Won the Banko Ceramic Exhibition Mayor’s Award. Won the Kofukai Art Association Exhibition Chunichi Award. Member and judge of the Sozo Bijutsu (Creative Arts) Artist Association. Selected for the Japan Fine Arts Exhibition, Asahi Ceramic Exhibition, and other exhibitions. Ceramic Director for the NHK TV show “Oshin.” Held customary private exhibitions at Kintetsu. Works on blue and white pottery and a variety of other styles. (more…)

Kisada Masahiro 幾左田昌宏

1936-malekyo potteryStudied under Miyashita Zenju. Selected for the Japan Fine Arts Exhibition, Japan New Craft Art Exhibition, Modern Craft Art Exhibition, Modern Craft Art Kansai Exhibition, Kyoto Craft Art Exhibition, Kyoten Exhibition, and other exhibitions and won awards. Member of the Japan New Craft Art Kinki Association and Kyoto Prefectural Craft Art Association. Works focus on Shinsha-yu glaze and color changes in the kiln. (more…)

Kigoshi Isao 木越勲

1941-malekutani porcelainWorked at the Kutani Ware Cooperative Baigaku kiln in 1958 and later became independent. Selected for the Kutani Ware New Piece Exhibition, Sozo Bijutsu Exhibition, Japanese Traditional Craft Art Exhibition, and other exhibitions and won awards. Exhibited at the Ishikawa Prefectural Craft Design Society Northern Europe Exhibition. Member of the Prefectural Craft Design Society. (more…)

Kikuchi Takako 菊池挙子

1934-femalemashiko potteryFrom Hokkaido. Married into the main family of the Kikuchi kiln in 1958. Selected for the Exhibition of New Works of Traditional Craft Art, Musashino Exhibition, Women’s Association of Ceramic Art, and other exhibitions. Held private exhibitions at the Matsuya in Ginza, the Odakyu in Shinjuku, Isetan, Kuroda Toen in Shibuya, and other venues. Works focus on inlay work, yakishime, iron red overglaze, and nerikomi. (more…)

Kikuchi Akira 菊池晃

1935-malemashiko potteryFrom Mashiko. Succeeded the Kikuchi Togeien as the 4th generation. After graduating from Musashi Industrial University, later researched ceramics in the Inorganic Chemical Material Laboratory of this university. Selected for the Modern Ceramic Exhibition, Japan Ceramic Art Exhibition, and other exhibitions. Exhibited at the Japan Ceramic Art Overseas Exhibition Selection. Member of the Japanese Expressionism Board and other organizations. (more…)

Kikuchi Kazumaro 菊池一麿

1946-maleFrom Mombetsu, Hokkaido. Graduated from Tama Art University, Tokyo University of the Arts, and the Tokyo University of the Arts Graduate Course in Ceramics. Started a studio in Tokyo in 1980. Lecturer at the Tobu Culture Center in Ikebukuro. Selected for the Japan Crafts Exhibition, Traditional Craft Art Exhibition, and Japan Ceramic Art Exhibition. Held private exhibitions at the Seibu in Ikebukuro, the Wako in Ginza, and the Inui Gallery in Akasaka. Member of the Japan Craft Design Society. Works focus on Yusai glaze. (more…)

Kikuchi Akira 菊池昭

1947-malemashiko potteryFrom Hitachi. After working at the Hitachi’s Omika Works and Mashiko Ware Tsukamoto Pottery Factory, became independent in 1971. Studied under Takeuchi Akira and Kamoda Shoji. Selected for the Japanese Traditional Craft Art Exhibition. Works focus on slipware and Hai-yu ash glaze. Official member of the Japan Craft Art Association. (more…)

Kikuta Akira 菊田明

1953-maleFrom Yokosuka. Studied under Iwabuchi Shigeya in Kyoto. Started the Minami kiln in 1980. Won the Kanagawa Prefectural Exhibition Honorable Mention Award. Selected for the Exhibition of New Works of Traditional Craft Art, Japan Ceramic Art Exhibition, Shinsho Craft Art Exhibition, and other exhibitions. Exhibited at the Osaka Mitsukoshi Yuyu Association Exhibition and Sapporo Mitsukoshi Yuyu Association Exhibition. (more…)

Kiuchi Toshio 木内利雄

1920-?maleAfter managing a business for many years, started a kiln in 1974 to make ceramics. Acquired techniques through self-education. Orderly, elaborate art style that is always formed by hand. Creates tea bowls and flower bowls in the Hagi ware, Karatsu ware, Jun ware, Yuteki Tenmoku, and Mishima ware styles. (more…)

Kanbe Yoshinori 神戸義憲

1943-maleGraduated from Kanagawa University. After working at Kobe Steel, sought to make ceramics in 1980. Won the Tokai Traditional Craft Art Exhibition Grand Prize and other awards. Selected for the Chunichi International Exhibition of Ceramic Arts, Asahi Ceramic Exhibition, Japanese Traditional Craft Art Exhibition, Tokoname Choza Award Exhibition, and Japan Ceramic Art Exhibition and won awards. Works focus on inlay work and Yuriko red copper glaze. (more…)

Kanzaki Tsuguharu 神崎継春

1950-maleshigaraki potteryFrom Shigaraki. Graduated from Gifu Prefectural Tajimi High School. Succeeded his family business and made ceramics. Won the Shiga Prefectural Exhibition Minister of Education Award and other awards. Selected for the Japanese Traditional Craft Art Exhibition, Chunichi International Exhibition of Ceramic Arts, and Shinsho Craft Art Exhibition and won awards. Held private exhibitions at the Seibu in Ikebukuro and other venues. As a potter of traditional Shigaraki ware, works focus on tableware involving yakishime, Hai-yu ash glaze, and cinnabar. (more…)

Kanzaki Shiho 神崎紫峰

1942-maleshigaraki potteryFrom Shigaraki. Graduated from the Faculty of Law at Kansai University. Studied under Matsuyama Suketoshi of Mino ware. Made ceramics at the Shigaraki Ware Genyo Kiln Mukaiyama Studio. Pursued natural Shizen-yu glaze to the extreme through firing in a cellar kiln for up to 2 weeks. Always insisted on private exhibitions. Held customary private exhibitions at the Hankyu in Osaka, Nakamiya Gallery, Mitsukoshi, Kichijoji, Matsudo, Takasaki, Tachikawa, the Isetan in Shizuoka, Jikou Kamakura, and the Mitsukoshi in Nihombashi. (more…)