Japanese potters

Saka Koraizaemon 11th 十一代 坂高麗左衛門

1912-1981malehagi 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. Real name is Nobuo. He was certified as an Important Intangible Cultural Property of Yamaguchi Prefecture in 1975.Born in 1912, died in 1981. Born in Shimonoseki. Graduated from the Imperial Fine Arts School. (more…)

Kusube Yaichi 楠部彌弌

1897-1984maleGraduated from the Kyoto Municipal Ceramics Experimental Station.Born to a family owning a ceramics export company in the Meiji era, he was familiar with pottery since he was a child.In 1924, he exhibited and won awards at the Paris World’s Fair. He also won awards at the Paris World’s Fair in 1936. In Japan, when the Technology Department was newly established in the Imperial Exhibition in 1927, he repeatedly held exhibitions and won the exhibition special selection award in 1932. Beyond submitting his works to the Japan Fine Arts Exhibition (Nitten) after the war, he created Yoyosha in 1932 and (more…)

Kimura Ichiro 木村一郎

1915-1978malemashiko potteryBorn in 1915, died in 1978. Born in Mashiko. He studied under Hamada Shoji. Underwent Kyoto pottery trial training. Became independent in 1946. He has won prizes at the Japan Folk Art Exhibition, The Contemporary Ceramics Exhibition, the National Ceramics Exhibition, the Japan Industrial Exhibition, and the Japan Traditional Crafts Exhibition. (more…)

Kitade Tojiro 北出塔次郎

1898-1968malekutani porcelainBorn in 1898, died in 1968. Born in Hyogo Prefecture. He entered the Kitade pottery family in Sakaetani and later inherited the line. He was trained under Tomimoto Kenkichi. Received the Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology Award. Artistic impressions. Received the Kaga City Cultural Merit Award, etc. Colored paintings and dyes. (more…)

Karasugi Toko 唐杉涛光

1904- 1985maleBorn in Tokyo. Graduated from the Kawabata Academy of Painting. Participated in the establishment of the Totokai. Part of the Sankikai artist organization committee. Part of the Japan Fine Arts Exhibition (Nitten) commission. Later presided over the Tokokai. Received the Idemitsu Award, the Itaya Hazan Award, and Ministry of Education Award. Investigated enamels that change color during firing. (more…)

Kato Iwao 加藤巌

1930-1987Born in Kyoto. Eldest son of Kato Toshimasa. Graduated from Kyoto Art School. Studied under Kusube Yaichi. In 1983, he succeeded his position to Toshimasa. He was part of the Japan Fine Arts Exhibition special selection, as well as judge and member. Director of Nissin Koren. Worked on porcelain dyeing. (more…)

Kagoshima Juzo 鹿児島寿蔵

1898-1982maleBorn in Fukuoka Prefecture. Graduated from the Hongo Western Art Research Institute. Creator of the Kokiri and Ningyo Shiso figures. He was a counselor of the sixth section of the Japan Kogei Association. In 1932, he created terracotta dolls, but in 1932 he created shiso-dolls (Instead of clay, the body is made of paper kneaded with starch glue, on which Japanese paper is pasted and coloured.) and in 1934 organised the Koujitsu-kai, a doll art group. In 1936 he became a Living National Treasure for his shiso-dolls. Created shino style pottery as a personal diversion. (more…)

Ishii Furo 石井不老

1899-1964maleakashi potterybizen potteryBorn in Himeji City. His real name was Yosokichi. At first he learned Asagiri ware (one of the Akashi ware), and later pursued opening a kiln, Bizen tea pottery, and crafts in Inbe. Named Okayama Prefecture Important Intangible Cultural Property in 1954. Mainly creating Bizen ware tea bowls. Excelled in handiwork, and his handleless tea pots received especially high praise. Engaged in red Shigaraki ware teacups in his later years and completed Aka ware. (more…)

Iida Sadashige 飯田貞重

1896-1977maleBorn in 1896, died in 1977. Born in Chiba prefecture. An apprentice of Asukai Kotaro, a pioneer in the Meiji kiln industry and chief engineer of Nihon Toki Co. Ltd. Later, he opened a research institute in Yokkaichi City, Mie Prefecture. Excelled in coloring. (more…)

Aoki Shokichi 青木正吉

1918-1979maleHe is the producer who won an art festival award for his movie “Erab no Umi,” and he also has experience working on the documentary “Shino,” based on Arakawa Toyozo.He established a kiln in Hachijojima and began creating pottery through self-study. Using sakaki evergreens from the island, he succeeded in making a creative ash glaze. He developed works made using lava glaze, etc. which he called Hachijo-yaki. (more…)

Wani Masaoki 和仁正興

1944-malebizen potteryBorn in Kagamino Town, Okayama Prefecture. Was introduced to Kaneshige Toyo in 1967. Studied under Kaneshige Michiaki. Trained under Kaneshige Sozan. Returned home in 1971, and opened his first kiln in 1975. Exhibited at the family of Kaneshige Toyo Exhibition. Solo exhibitions by Takashimaya Okayama store, Mihara Tenmaya store, Kobe Harishin gallery, Shibuya Kuroda Toen and others. (more…)

Watari Takahisa 渡高久

1929-2014maleagano potteryAn 11th generation Watari Kyube, one of the six traditional Agano ware surnames. Studied under Hagi ware’s 14th generation, Sakakura Shinbe. In 1964, he inherited the Watari kiln, which his father had reconstructed. Many of his works have been selected for the Japan Traditional Crafts Exhibition. Solo exhibitions at Kokura Izutsuya, Shimonoseki Daimaru, Nihonbashi Mitsukoshi and others. Exhibited at the Contemporary Ceramics Selection Exhibition of the Japan Ceramic Society. Regular member of the Japan Kogei Association. Mainly works with ash glaze and tea pottery. (more…)

Watanabe Wataru 渡辺渉

1933-?maleBorn in Osaka. Dropped out of Kyoto Art School. Studied under Tomimoto Kenkichi. Won the Hamamatsu City Arts Festival Memorial Grand Prize. Selected for the Japan Ceramics Exhibition, Chunichi International Ceramics Exhibition, and the Tomitake Cultural Award Exhibition. Solo exhibition at Akasaka Inui G, Shibuya Seibu, Shinsaibashi Daimaru, and Shizuoka Matsuzakaya. Known for hand-twisted high-fired unglazed ceramics with Enshu golden clay. (more…)

Watanabe Rokuro 渡辺六郎

1923-2012maleBorn in Kitahama, Osaka. Graduated from Tokyo Fine Arts University (currently Tokyo University of the Arts), Department of Crafts, Lacquer Engineering, in 1949. After that, he took up teaching until 1965. During that time, he studied under Inoue Yoshinori and started making pottery, then built a kiln in Ibaraki prefecture in 1965. After working as a member of the Japan Ceramics Society and a member of Shinso Crafts, he was selected for the Nitten Exhibition, Contemporary Crafts Exhibition, New Traditional Crafts Exhibition, and Japan Ceramics Exhibition. Currently serves as Vice President of Nifu Exhibition, and Director of Crafts Department. Member (more…)

Watanabe Yuriko 渡辺由理子

1954-femaleBorn in Sugadaira. Graduated from Musashino Art University, Department of Industrial Design with a major in Ceramics. In 1980, he built the Suguri kiln in his hometown and struck out on his own. Selected for the Craft Exhibition. Solo and group exhibitions in Tokyo, Ueda and others. Mainly does porcelain dyeing. Exhibited at the Nagano Ceramic Artist Association Exhibition and others. (more…)

Watanabe Hiroshi 渡部豁

1914-?maleBorn in Tokyo, Japan. Learned oil painting from Ishii Hakutei and Ikuma Arima at the Bunka Gakuin Art Department. After working for the Nika Association on new productions, he worked for Shiseido as a designer and Gifu Prefectural Crafts Guidance Center during the war, and later became attracted to pottery under the influence of Tomimoto Kenkichi. Engaged in research and development of television art when NHK TV was opened after the war, and worked until 1980. During that time, he studied under Kawamura Seizan. Mainly does solo exhibitions. Mainly worked in red, gold and silver. set of 5 plates 5,250 (more…)

Watanabe Nobuyasu 渡辺亘康

1953-maletokoname potteryGoes by the name “Yamashichi”. Born in Tokoname City. Studied under Yamada Jozan in 1969. Selected for Tokai Traditional Crafts Exhibition, Choza Award Ceramics Exhibition, Chunichi International Ceramics Exhibition, Japanese Ceramics Shop, Japanese Traditional Crafts Exhibition. Exhibited at Yamada Jozan Ichimon Exhibition, Sencha Tools Exhibition in Kyoto, Nakamura, Nagoya, Mitsukoshi, and Utsunomiya Tamaki Crafts Museum. Mainly works on red stoneware, Yohen color variations, Moyaki, ash glaze, and carbonized high-fired unglazed ceramics. (more…)

Watanabe Nobuo 渡辺信雄

1949-malekasama potteryBorn in Niigata prefecture. Studied under Kido Natsuo in 1968. Graduated from Ibaraki University in 1972. Later became independent in Kasama. Moved to Nishi-Ibaraki-gun, Ibaraki Prefecture in 1976. Won the Ibaraki Prefectural Arts Festival Grand Prize among others. Has held solo exhibitions at Ginza Matsuya, Ueno Matsuzakaya, Mito Soma Gallery. He has been a lecturer at Ibaraki Christian Junior College and others. Ibaraki Craft Association member. Mainly works in inlaying. (more…)

Watanabe Toshinao 渡辺俊直

1925-?maleBorn in Seto City. From 1952, he studied under Hiyama Shinpei, emeritus professor at Nagoya Institute of Technology, and researched “openwork”. Studied Chinese and Korean ancient ceramics under Sakikawa Noriyuki, emeritus professor at the University of Tokyo. Has inspected ceramics from around the world. Mainly does solo exhibitions. Mainly worked on celadon, inlaying, suburban kilns, Southern Sung Dynasty, and Goryeo style works. (more…)