Japanese potters

Yasuhara Kimei 安原喜明

1906-1980Born in Tokyo. Studied under Itaya Hazan at the Totokai. Opened the Kochin kiln in Meguro in 1928. Nitten Special, Minister of Education Award, Japan Art Academy Prize, Director. Participant in contemporary crafts. Stoneware. (more…)

Yagi Kazuo 八木一夫

1918-1979maleGraduated from Kyoto Art School. Studied under his father, Isso. Learned ceramic carving from Numata Ichiga at the Kyoto Ceramics Test. Formed the Soteisha company after the war. Established an international reputation for himself at the Prague International Exhibition Gold Awards as well as others. Professor at Kyoto City University of Arts. (more…)

Morino Kako 森野嘉光

1899-1987maleHis real name was Kaichiro. Graduated from the Japanese painting department of Kyoto Painting College. Later, he turned to pottery and was selected for the Imperial Exhibition in 1945. 38th Japan Art Academy Prize. Director and councilor of Nitten. Participant in contemporary crafts. (more…)

Miyanohara Ken 宮之原謙

1898-1977maleBorn in Kagoshima prefecture. After dropping out of Waseda University, he aspired to get into pottery. Studied under Itaya Hazan at the Totokai. Built a kiln in Chiba after the war. Nitten Council and Director. Japan Art Academy Prize. (more…)

Maruta Masami 丸田正美

1925-1979malekaratsu potteryBorn in Kuromuta, Takeo City, Saga Prefecture, he grew up in familiarity with pottery from an early age. After graduating from the Ceramics Department of Arita Technical High School, he became an apprentice of Hamada Shoji of Mashiko, and after that he continued to practice at Mashiko, Hagi, and Tobe. He established the unique Karatsu ware that incorporates the advantages of various kilns, and built a kiln in Kuromuta in 1962.From then on, he was selected as one of the leading artists of Kyushu folk art, and won many prizes at the Kyushu Ceramics Exhibition, Japanese Traditional Crafts Exhibition (more…)

Matsuda Kazan 3rd 三代 松田華山

1902-1948malebizen potteryHis real name was Takeshi. Inheritor of a prestigious Bizen ware kiln after the first of their line, Matsuda Katsurao, and the second, Matsuda Kazan. Developed a magnificent style using German muffle furnaces, donut-shaped double kilns, and climbing kilns. (more…)

Fujiwara Ken 藤原建

1924-1977malebizen potteryHis real name was Ken (written with a different kanji). Studied under his uncle Kei, Kaneshige Toyo, and Kitaoji Rosanjin. Declared Okayama Prefecture Intangible Cultural Property in 1973. Recipient of the Japan Ceramic Society Award. Kaneshige Toyo Award. Full member of the Japan Kogei Association. (more…)

Fujita Ryuho 2nd 二代 藤田龍峰

1913-1973malebizen potteryHis real name was Shunichi. Studied under his father, Fujita Ryuho I. Assumed the name of Fujita Ryuho II in 1944. Rosanjin had a high opinion of Ryuho, and sent a testimonial at the Kobe Daimaru solo exhibition. In 1954, he was declared Okayama Prefecture Intangible Cultural Property. (more…)

Fujisawa Ritsuzan 藤沢栗山

1925-1987maleraku potteryGraduated from Taipei Normal School. In 1952, he devoted himself to the education of visually impaired children, and built a kiln in Shishibuse, Kagawa Prefecture, where he started Raku ware. Actively held pottery product exhibitions centered on the Ginza Kuroda kiln. (more…)

Hayashi Kotaro 林孝太郎

1940-1981maleshino potteryBorn in Gifu prefecture. Completed prefectural pottery training. Active in the Japanese Traditional Crafts Exhibition, the Asahi Ceramics Exhibition, and Chunichi International Exhibition. Full member of the Japan Kogei Association. Once a shining hope of the Mino pottery world, he sadly died young. (more…)

Hazama Inosuke 硲伊之助

1895-1977malekutani porcelainBorn in Tokyo. Studied in the Mejirodai Painting Institute and participated in the Fuzankai collective with Kishida Ryusei and others. Traveled to France and studied under Matisse. After the war, he pursued painting through Kutani ware. Founding committee member of the Issuikai collective. (more…)

Nagasawa Eishin 3rd 三代 永澤永信

1910-1977maleizushi potteryBorn into the family of Nagasawa Eishin which had a kiln for Izushi-ware , he started making pottery after receiving training from his grandfather the first generation Eishin. At the time he was 19, he was able to demonstrate his talent early, as he was honored by having the Showa Emperor inspect and purchase his work when he made a visit to Kobe.In 1932 when he was 22, he also tried to become a painter by studying under the Nanga painter Akamatsu Unrei, but returned to his hometown the following year, succeeded to the 3rd generation name, and was (more…)

Teraike Toshu 寺池陶秌

1907-1980malekyo potteryBorn in Kanazawa. Completed pottery training in Kyoto. Studied under Kiyomizu Rokuwa. Set up an independent workshop in front of the Kyoto Myohoin temple in 1933. Winner of the Bunten and Nitten exhibitions. Known for a splendid and elegant style and tone displayed through his goldleaf and hawksbill turtle glazing. (more…)

Terao Koji 寺尾恍示

1929-1987maleBorn in Kyoto. At first, he participated in the Sodeisha company, and was later selected for the exhibition of contemporary art trends sponsored by the National Museum of Modern Art, Kyoto, and international ceramic art exhibitions. Exhibited sculptures at the Osaka Expo. Known for his usage of color painting and ash glaze. (more…)

Tsuji Shinroku 辻晋六

1905-1970maleGraduated from Tokyo Kuramae High Ceramics Department. Served as an engineer at the Ceramics Research Institute of the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, which became a base for the development of modern Japanese ceramics, and later built a kiln in Yamashina, Kyoto. Contributed to the spread of new designs. (more…)

Suzuki Osai 鈴木黄哉

1908- 1972malebizen potteryHis real name was Tadayoshi. Born in Gunma prefecture. He studied Kurita ware at the end of the Taisho era, under Kusube Yaichi. Moved to Imbe in 1926 and built a kiln. Active in literary exhibitions and contemporary craft exhibitions. Specialized in handiwork. (more…)

Sakuma Totaro 佐久間藤太郎

1900-1976malemashiko potteryBorn in Mashiko. Completed his studies at Mashiko Training School and inherited the family business. In 1924, the potter Sakuma Totaro met Hamada Shoiji, who greatly influenced him. Inspired by Hamada’s innovative ceramic style, Totaro began experimenting with new forms that deviated from the traditional Mashiko ware. Initially, the local community was skeptical and critical of these changes, but Totaro persisted in incorporating Hamada’s techniques, eventually gaining acceptance. This encounter played a pivotal role in establishing Mashiko as a town celebrated for its folk crafts.Ogoto Tonichi Award. Tochigi Prefecture Cultural Achievement Award. Member of the Totokai and Kokugakai collectives. (more…)

Sakakura Shinbe 14th 十四代 坂倉新兵衛

1949-malehagi potteryBorn as a child of Sakakura Shinbe XIII, he studied at the Tokyo University of the Arts and the same graduate school. He returned to his hometown in 1974, and his father died in 1975, during a year in which he was engaged in the family business in earnest. Although not been taught directly, he learned the family’s traditional technique independently and was selected for the Japan Kogei Association, the Yamaguchi Prefecture Exhibition, the Japan Kogei Association West China Branch Exhibition, etc., and became a regular member of the Japan Kogei Association in 1984. He received the Yamaguchi Prefecture (more…)

Sakakura Shinbe 13th 十三代 坂倉新兵衛

1917-1975malehagi potteryBorn as the son of Shinbe XII.After graduating from Hagi Commercial School, he was temporarily employed in Kobe, but returned home to take over the family business after his brother died in the war. In 1946, he succeeded the family line, and took the name of Shinbe XIII.Since then, he exhibited and won awards at contemporary ceramic art exhibitions, Japanese traditional craft exhibitions, western Japanese craft exhibitions, etc, and held solo exhibitions at Takashimaya in Osaka and Kyoto. (more…)

Sakaida Kakiemon 13th 十三代 酒井田柿右衛門

1906-1982malearita porcelainBorn in the traditional Kakiemon family as the eldest son of Kakiemon XII, he learned pottery from his father. When Kakiemon XII yet lived, he produced works as Sakaida Shibuo, and exhibited at Saga Prefecture Exhibition and Japanese Traditional Crafts Exhibition. After being repeatedly selected, in 1955, in commemoration of the 300th anniversary of the birth of the first Kakiemon, his father, Kakiemon XII, and his son Masaru (14th Kakiemon) revived the Nigori-te technique. In 1963, with the death of his father, he was named Sakaida Kakiemon XIII.In the following year, he was recommended as a regular member of (more…)