Japanese potters – Page 182 – Dictionary of Japanese Potters

Akioka Motooji 秋岡元王寺

1914-?karatsu potteryStarted out as an oil painter. Exhibited his work at the Shinseisaku Exhibition. After losing the war, he moved to Kurashiki, where he collected and studied old ceramics, and eventually developed his own copying of old ceramics. His works include Yayoi, Sue ware style, Seto-guro and Oribe pottery of the Momoyama period, mottled glaze with a touch of the old kilns of Kitakyushu, carved Karatsu, and painted Karatsu. (more…)

Setosuke 瀬戸助

early Edo period (1603-1868 CE) The name and mark of “Setosuke” have been passed down and remembered in Edo, Iyo, Kyoto, Ise, Echizen, Kaga, and Etchu, but it is unknown whether they are all the same individual, they are different potters of the same style, or they are potters that have traveled completely different paths. In general, it is said that Iyo Setosuke involved a potter in Seto (Setosuke) being invited to fire earthenware by Matsudaira Sadayuki, the feudal lord of the Matsuyama Domain, when he retreated to Higashino in 1658. He is said to have been adept at making (more…)

Okamoto Takaaki 岡本孝明

1938-maleSecond son of Okamoto Shiichi (1907-1996). Studied under his father in 1961 and produced ceramics. Received many awards including the National Exhibition, the President’s Award of the East China Branch of the Japan Art Crafts Association, and the Prefectural Governor’s Award. Selected for the Japan Traditional Craft Exhibition and others. Commissioned for the prefectural exhibition. Solo exhibition at Okayama Tenmaya and others. Mainly specializes in iron painting, nuki-e and inlaying. (more…)

Sakaguchi Sazan 坂口砂山

The end of Edo period-maleuchide potteryHe is a potter of the Uchide ware style who thrived in Ashiya City in Hyogo Prefecture from the Bakumatsu to the Meiji era.Among his existing works, there are many high-quality tea sets of the Kyo ware style. He was especially adept at copies of Ninsei’s works. (more…)

Nishiura Enji 5th 五代西浦圓治

1856-1914maleThe 1st generation Nishiura Enji was a potter from Tajimi in Mino Province and endeavored to improve Mino ware, even becoming the executive director of the Mino Kiln around the Bunsei eta (1818 – 1830). However, the 3rd – 5th generation Enji would begin to establish their works as Nishiura ware around the Meiji era to the Taisho era.In terms of styles, the 1st and 2nd generations mainly focused on blue and white pottery during Bakumatsu, but starting around 1883 under the lead of the 3rd generation, overglaze and other techniques were used to produce works with elaborate Japanese decorations (more…)

Wada Tozan 和田桐山 (I-IV)

Meiji period-kotoura potteryWada Kujuro opened a kiln in Taisha Village in Nishinomiya in Meiji 34 (1901).His second son Masae moved the kiln to Higashi Sakuragi Town in Amagasaki City and founded this style as the 1st generation Tozan.It originally fired Raku ware, but began to fire various other types of pottery later.The 3rd generation Tozan was born in Taisho 9 (1920), and the 4th generation Tozan was born in Showa 22 (1947).The 4th generation is the grandson of the 1st generation. (more…)

Tominaga Genroku 富永源六

1859-1920malearita pocelainnabeshima porcelainHe was born as the eldest son of the kiln owner Tominaga Seibei and succeeded the family business in Meiji 22 (1889). He constructed a new kiln and repeated research and improvements to create his own style that combined a high-quality base that is on the same level as Arita ware with the inked outlines for the underglaze used in Nabeshima ware.Furthermore, the characteristic works that incorporate Art Nouveau elements represented Saga Prefecture during the 4th National Industrial Exhibition in Meiji 28 (1895) and won 2nd place at the Arita 52 Competitive Exhibition during the following year. His (more…)

Fukuda Kyokusui 福田旭水

1856-1928malekinkazan pottery He is a potter of Kinkazan ware.At first, Kyokusui was a tea store owner, but he began creating Raku ware, which carried on the traditions from the Edo period, along with other students of tea ceremony. In addition to Raku ware, he opened a kiln and began creating teacups, tea sets for green tea, and tea bowls, as well as goods for daily use. At the time, his works were widely distributed as craft goods near the foot of Mount Kinka in Gifu Prefecture, but few are presently in existence, making them valuable as materials for research.His signature (more…)

Morishita Mokuji 森下杢二

1823-1889maleisuzu potteryHis real name is Mokujiro. He trained thoroughly under the Tokoname ware potter Matsushita Sanko since he was a child and opened a Mayake kiln in Sakai, Tokoname in 1879.Although he exclusively fired pots and jars at first, he gradually began to create tea sets for green tea and matcha tea. In particular, he became famous as a master of glazed water droppers.Furthermore, under the guidance of Raku Kichizaemon (maybe 11th generation Keinyu) in Kyoto, he learned the techniques of Aka Raku and created Raku ware.In addition, he was invited to make Isuzu (-gawa) ware in Ise and gave (more…)

Kato Kagemasa 加藤景正

1168-1249maleseto pottery Toshiro, the founder of Seto-wareKato Shirozaemon Kagemasa (commonly known as Toshiro) is essential to the story of Seto-ware. According to Fujishiro’s biography, which describes the life of Kato Shirozaemon Kagemasa, Toshiro followed Dogen Zenji, the founder of the Soto school of Zen Buddhism that founded Eiheiji Temple, to China in the second year of Joh’o 2 (1223), and returned to Japan after learning the technique of pottery. After that, he traveled around Japan in search of suitable soil for making pottery and in 1242, he found good soil in the Sobokai region of Seto and opened a kiln (more…)

Kashu Minpei 加集民平

1796-1871maleawaji potteryWhile engaging in his original business of brewing soy sauce, he devoted himself to tea ceremonies and incense-burning ceremonies and began making hand-molded earthenware.In Tenpo 3 (1832), after traveling to Kyoto to study ceramic art techniques seriously under Ogata Shuhei, he invited Shuhei to Awaji Island and began creating Awaji ware (Minpei ware) by incorporating the polychrome pottery techniques and designs of Kyo ware.Around the late Tenpo era, he was invited by the Tokushima Domain in Awa Province to create earthenware. Since then, he created a wide variety of copies of earthenware styles, including Kyo ware, Chinese pottery, Cochin (more…)

Aoki Mokubei 青木木米

1767-1833malekyo potterykutani porcelainAoki Mokubei was born in the Gion district of Kyoto as Aoki Sahei.From childhood, he was a student of the well known artist and Confucianist Kou Fuyou, who had a strong influence on his upbringing.When he visited Kimura Kenkadou of Osaka, he found among his book collection a book written by the Chinese Shuryuutei called “Guide to Ceramics”, which, it is said, inspired him to decide that ceramic art was his life’s calling.It is said that his mentors in ceramic art were Okuda Eisen, who taught him how to work porcelain, and Houzan Bunzou the 11th, who taught (more…)

Arakawa Toyozo 荒川豊蔵

1894-1985malemino potteryliving national treasureAround 1586, Shino ware suddenly appeared in records of tea ceremonies, being used as the bowl The Shino ware was being used as the tea bowl in tea ceremonies. During the Keicho period, problems with production efficiency and other issues caused a decline and eventually a complete halt in production.Arakawa Toyozo, after experiencing much difficulty, revived the tradition of Shino ware, which became a success. He was eventually named a Living National Treasure and is regarded as one of the finest potters in history.Born on March 21st, 1894. Educated by Miyanaga Tozan, went to Kamakura and aided (more…)

Ando Moriyuki 安藤百利行

1939-maleGraduated from Tajimi Kinuta. Later studied in Kyoto and Tokoname and became independent in 1967. Won prizes at the Asahi Ceramic Art Exhibition, the Chunichi International Ceramic Art Exhibition, the Japan New Craft Exhibition, and others. Fired his own ash-glazed demon skin, ash-glazed kairagi, and Mino fire-keyaki based on the traditions of old Mino ceramics. Served as the head of the Mizunami Pottery Association. (more…)

Ando Minoru 安藤貰

1927-maleBorn in Aichi Prefecture. Awarded a prize at the National Painting Competition in 1957. Later, he served as deputy director of the Toki City Pottery Experiment Station and published “Mino Old Pottery Pattern Collection” and other books. Opened a kiln at Jorinji Temple in 1973. He is an accomplished in Western painting, Japanese painting, calligraphy, and design. (more…)

Ando Masayoshi 安藤正義

1945-maleGraduated from the art department of Shizuoka University in 1971. In 1984, he quit his teaching position and began making pottery. Since then, he held solo exhibitions every year. Fascinated by the handwork of applying crests without using any stamping. Absorbed in the rush knitting crest and rope crest. (more…)

Ando Hironobu 安藤博允

1940-maleGraduated from Tajimi Technical High School. Received many awards at the Nitten Chunichi Prize and the Asahi Ceramic Art Exhibition, including the Kato Kohei Prize. A member of the Nitten Club. Member of the Japan Federation of New Craft Artists. Director of the Birou Ceramics Association. Former director of Gifu Ceramic Designers’ Association. Member of Gifu Prefecture Ceramics Artists Association. (more…)