Japanese potters

Seto Takemi 瀬戸毅己

1958-maleBorn in Odawara City, Kanagawa Prefecture1981 Graduated from Tokyo Zokei University, Department of Sculpture1982 Trained at Aichi Ceramic Training School1992-2005 Lecturer at Toita Women’s Junior College2018- Solo exhibition at Shibiya Kuroda Toen　　Currently a member of the Oriental Ceramic Society (more…)

Kuze Seitei 久世青亭

1968-maleBorn in Kyoto, Japan, he began his career as a ceramic artist, and after producing Raku tea bowls, he continued his research on Tenmoku tea bowls from the Southern Song period in China, which are compared to the “mysteries of the universe,” and developed his own unique Tenmoku tea bowl reconstructions. (more…)

Hashimoto Daisuke 橋本大輔

1972-maleBorn in Kyoto, the second son of Hashimoto Jogaku II2002 Graduated from Kyoto Prefectural College of Advanced Ceramic Technology2002 Worked at a kiln of Miyamoto Suiko2004 Completed the ceramics course at Kyoto Municipal Industrial Research Institute2004- Engaged in the family business of making tea ceremony utensils, and also worked on his own ceramics, mainly Tenmoku.2007 Built a kiln in Otsu City, Shiga Prefecture2012 Japan Traditional Crafts Kinki Exhibition (more…)

Fujimoto Hide 藤本秀

1954-maleshigaraki potteryBorn in Koka City1973-83 Studied and produced oil paintings1987-92 Creates sculptures with wood, grass, and clay1990 Started making ceramics by wild firing1991 Worked at a pottery studio in Shigaraki1995 Built anagama kiln in the mountains of Unoi, Shigaraki2000 First solo exhibition at the Shigaraki Ceramic Garden Since then, held solo exhibitions at Ginza Kuroda Toen and other venues2004 NCECA(America Indiana) / Workshop of wood-fired kiln firing2005 “Ceramics in the Lake Country” at The Ceramic Cultural Park, Tokyo2006 Participated in the reconstruction of the Kinzan Kiln (Shigaraki) in the Middle Ages2007 “Welcome to Raccoon Dog’s Palace” (The Ceramic Cultural Park)2008-12 (more…)

Nishioka Yu 西岡悠

1977-malemino potteryBorn in Chiba Prefecture.Graduated from Aichi Prefectural College of Ceramic Technology in 2011.In the same year, he studied under Suzuki Goro.In 2014, he started his own business in Ena City, Gifu Prefecture.Through his experience in making various things such as furniture and musical instruments, he was attracted to the depth of ceramics and now pursues the charm of Mino ware, especially focusing on the expression of the texture of Kizeto, which is said to be highly difficult to produce. He produces works that take advantage of the diverse characteristics of Mino clay, which he mines himself. (more…)

Nanba Koyo 難波好陽

1902-malebizen potteryold-bizen style, excellent in both wheel and workmanship.Namba Shosaku ( b. 1937 ) is the eldest son,Namba Shusaku (b. 1942), his fourth son. Both are Bizen artists. (more…)

Kurasaki Gonbee 倉崎権兵衛

?-1694malerakuzan potteryFounder of Izumo (Shimane Prefecture) Rakuzan ware. Also known simply as Gonbee. There were two brothers, Kurasaki Gorozaemon and Kanbei, among the Hagi potters, and it is assumed that Gonbee was the son of one of them. According to the “Kurasaki Family Work Record,” when Izumo domain lord Matsudaira Tsunachika opened an official kiln at Rakuzan in the eastern suburbs of Matsue in 1677, he made an appeal to the Hagi domain to invite a potter, and Gonbee was hired with 10 pieces of silver and four men’s allowance. Gombee worked at the Rakuzan kiln for 18 years, and (more…)

Sawamura Toza 澤村東左

meiji periodmushiake potterykyo potteryA pupil of Kiyomizu Rokubey III. In 1876 (Meiji 9), he opened a business in Gojobashi Higashi, Kyoto. He mainly made and sold sake and tea utensils. (more…)

Saka Koraizaemon 坂高麗左衛門

1568-1643Hagi potteryAfter Toyotomi Hideyoshi’s dispatch to Korea, Mori Terumoto, who at the time ruled the entirety of China, brought back from Korea a potter who went by the name Sakata. He later changed his name to Saka, and after Terumoto moved to Hagi, the second feudal lord of Hagi, Mori Tsunahiro, bestowed upon him the title of Saka Koraizaemon, a line which continues to the present day. The 1st generation Saka koraizaemon (1568 – 1643) teabowl 86,000 JPYThe 2nd generation Saka sukehachi (1615 – 1668) teabowl 133,000 JPYThe 3rd generation Saka Shinbe (1648 – 1729) teabowl 323,000 JPYThe 4th generation (more…)

Koyama Koichi 小山耕一

1960-maleBorn in Taito-ku, Tokyo1983 Graduated from Tamagawa University, Faculty of Letters, Department of Art, Ceramics CourseJoined the Japan Ceramic Art Club1990 Resigned from the Japan Ceramic Art Club, built a kiln in Ryusen, Taito-ku, Tokyo2010 Lectured on Lucy Lee’s glaze technique at the New National Museum of Art, Tokyo (more…)

Miyata Kenichi 宮田堅一

1957-male1993 Participated in a group exhibition in Kyoto1996 First solo exhibition, Art Space Hachigen, Gion, Kyoto2001 Built a semi-underground anagama kiln in Tamano-cho, Kasai City, Hyogo PrefectureSelected for the Japan Traditional Crafts Kinki Exhibition (’03 ’04 ’05 ’07 ’08 ’09 ’10 ’11 ’19)2003 Selected, Japan Traditional Crafts Exhibition (’07 ’08 ’09 ’10 ’12)Recognized as an Associate Member of the Japan Kogei Association2004 Recognized as a member of Hyogo Crafts Artists Association2010 Recognized as a regular member of the Japan Kogei Artists’ Association (more…)

Fujii Takayuki 藤井隆之

1973-maleBorn in Hiroshima City, Hiroshima Prefecture1999 Graduated from Tokyo University of the Arts, Department of Crafts, majoring in ceramicsAwarded the Salon du Printemps prize for graduation workSelected for the 39th Exhibition of New Works of Traditional Crafts (since then, selected 19 times)2000 Selected for the 47th Japan Traditional Crafts Exhibition (and 11 times since)2001 Completed the Graduate School of Fine Arts, Tokyo National University of Fine Arts and Music, majoring in ceramics2001 Completion work: purchased by Tokyo National University of Fine Arts and MusicAfter working as a research student at Tokyo University of the Arts, established his own kiln in (more…)

Sukiki Takeshi 鈴木健

1971-malemino potteryBorn in Ichinokura-cho, Tajimi City, Gifu Prefecture (Father: Suzuki Osamu)1997 Completed a special course at Kyoto Municipal Industrial Research Institute2005 Selected for the 52nd Japan Traditional Craft Exhibition2007 Selected, 38th Tokai Traditional Craft Exhibition2009 Certified as a regular member of the Japan Kogei Association2015 Selected for the 6th Kikuchi BiennaleSelected for the Japan Kogei Association, East Japan and Tokai Selected Exhibition, “The Present State of Traditional Crafts”, MOA Museum of Art, Gifu, Japan.2019 Gifu Prefecture Award for Succession to Traditional Culture, Commendation for Meritorious Achievement2021 Selected, Kasama Ceramic Grand Prize Exhibition (more…)

Eki Minori 易みのり

1979-femaleBorn in Osaka2002 Graduated from Kurashiki University of Science and the Arts, Department of Crafts2003 Worked at Kurashiki Ivy Square Aibi Kobo Ceramic Art Studio2004 Completed the Graduate School of Kurashiki University of Science and the ArtsSelected, Okayama Prefectural Art Exhibition (04,08,09,11,12,16,18)Okayama Prefectural Fine Arts Exhibition, Awarded the Prefectural Exhibition Prize (14), Encouragement Prize (17), Special Prize of the Prefectural Exhibition (19)Selected, Japan Traditional Crafts Chugoku Branch Exhibition (09 ,12 -20)Selected, Japan Traditional Crafts Exhibition (19)Selected, Biermagrancai 9 (12)Selected, Grand Prix of Rice Bowl (15,16) (more…)

Tanaka Sokei 田中宗慶

1535-?maleraku potteryGrandfather of Raku Chojiro’s wife. He is said to have taken the family name Tanaka and was a constant follower of Sen Rikyu. He also had close contact with Haruya Soen of Daitokuji Temple, the painter Hasegawa Tohaku, and others. In 1576, there is a record of his residence in Minamiinokuma-cho, Kamigyo-ku, Rakuchu, Kyoto (document from a Buddhist temple in Kyoto), where he was known as the best potter in Japan and ran a Raku pottery workshop with Chojiro.　Like Chojiro, he produced Raku tea bowls in the shape of Rikyu, and other Raku ceramics, such as a three-color lion (more…)

Mori Juko 森寿光

1955-maleBorn in Kobe City, Hyogo Prefecture2009 Studied under Murobushi Eiji and began using the kneading technique2014 Selected for Tableware Festival 2015Three-person exhibition M Space (Shiki, Saitama)2015 Selected, Tableware Festival 20162018 Ceramics at “Nerikomi Studio Yumemite” (Urawa-ku, Saitama City) (-present)Selected, 58th East Japan Traditional Crafts ExhibitionSelected, The 6th Exhibition of Ceramic ArtSelected, 48th All Pottery ExhibitionSelected, Tableware Festival 20192019 Selected, The 66th Japan Traditional Crafts ExhibitionSelected, 49th All Ceramic ExhibitionSelected, Tableware Festival 20202020 Selected, The 8th Exhibition of Ceramic Art2021 Selected, 61st East Japan Traditional Crafts Exhibition2021 Selected, Kasama Ceramic Art Grand Prize ExhibitionTableware Festival 2022Nerikomi Group Exhibition, AC Gallery, Ginza, (more…)

和泉屋製陶所 Izumiya Pottery Factory

tokoname potteryOne of the oldest bonsai pot makers in Tokoname. The kiln of Matsushita Masuhisa (father) and Matsushita Masuo (son), artists of Tokoname ware. It is commonly known as ” Zenigo,” although it is properly called Izumi-gama. This common name is derived from ” zenigo rin-sei,” which is traditionally used, and was established because the “KO” in the seal script “zeniKO” can be seen as “GO” as well. Incidentally, “zenigo rin-sei” was originally a Chinese inscription from Zhongdu, and it is a remnant of the copying of the inscription when the Chinese copy of the bowl was made before World (more…)

Tanaka Somi 田中宗味

early edo periodmaleraku potteryHis name is Shozaemon.He was the son of Tanaka Sokei and the elder brother of Kichizaemon Jokei.In the Raku kiln genealogy up to around Genroku (1688-1704), he was the second generation after Chojiro, and Jokei was the third generation, but for some reason, in the subsequent genealogy, Shozaemon was omitted from the Raku generation and Tsunekei was the second generation.Therefore, after that, Somi is treated as a side kiln. (more…)

Kumagai Tomohisa 熊谷智久

1969-malekoishiwara potteryKoishiwara Pottery, a traditional Japanese craft, is produced in Asakura-gun Toho-mura, a mountainous area in Fukuoka Prefecture. Graduated from Musashino Art University (oil painting major)Selected for many prizes at the Japan Traditional Crafts ExhibitionSelected, Japan Ceramic Art ExhibitionSelected, Western Japan Traditional Crafts ExhibitionSelected, Western Japan Ceramic Art ExhibitionSelected, many prizes and Honorable Mentions, Kyushu-Yamaguchi Ceramics Exhibition AwardsFukuoka Traditional Crafts Exhibition, Kyushu Bureau of Economy, Trade and Industry Director-General’s Prize (Highest Award)Grand Prize, Koishiwara Pottery Traditional Crafts Exhibition (Highest Prize)Fukuoka Prefecture Art Exhibition, Fukuoka Prefecture Governor’s Prize (Highest Award)Many other prizes (more…)

Kishida Ryo 岸田怜

1984-maleBorn in Nagano, Japan2005 Studied under Shimada Yoshihiro2009 First prize at the East Japan Traditional Crafts Exhibition (since then, 9 times)2010 Selected for the first time at the Issuikai Ceramic Art Exhibition (now the Ceramic Art Exhibition) (since then, selected 7 times)2014 Selected for the first time at the Japan Traditional Crafts Exhibition (since then, selected seven consecutive times)2015 Selected for the first time at the Kikuchi Biennale (since then, selected twice)2019 Nominated for the Japan Ceramic Art Exhibition Prize2020 Selected, Mino Tea Ceremony Exhibition2021 Selected, Arita International Ceramics ExhibitionSelected, Kasama Ceramic Art Grand Prize Exhibition (more…)