Japanese potters

Yamamoto Rihei 山本利兵衛

1944-maleUsed to be an architectural designer. In 1955, succeeded the kiln that his father-in-law started in the Oki Islands after the kiln had been closed temporarily. After restoring the Oki Rihei kiln, discovered the ruins of a miraculous Tojin ware kiln in Tsuwano. Started Tojin kiln in Tsuwano, Kanoashi, Shimane in 1983. Works focus on Hai-yu ash glaze. (more…)

Yamamoto Yoshiyuki 山本芳幸

1948-maletanegashima-kumano potteryFrom Kagoshima Prefecture. Studied under Koyama Fujio and Nakazato Takashi. Succeeded Tanegashima kiln that Nakazato Takashi left behind and started making ceramics. Also sought to restore Tanegashima Kumano ware. Mainly created sake vessels, flower vessels, and tableware with high-fired unglazed ceramics. (more…)

Yamamoto Yoshimi 山本吉美

1949-?maletsugaru potteryFrom Aomori Prefecture. Trained at the Tsugaru ware kiln in 1973. Later studied under Kaneda Keien of Hagi ware. Became independent in Hirosaki in 1984 and started Tsugaru Yotsuya kiln. Held private exhibitions in Hirosaki, Aomori, Kizukuri, Obihiro, and Goshogawara. Mainly carved patterns and did openwork using the ashes of apple trees and straw. (more…)

Yamamoto Yoshihiro 山本義博

1947-maleFrom Nara Prefecture. After leaving the Advertising Department of Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd., studied at the Ceramic Research Institute of the Tekisui Museum. Studied under Yagi Kazuo, Kondo Yutaka, and Iwabuchi Shigeya. Won the Shinko Craft Exhibition Shinko Award. Won the Osaka Craft Exhibition Association’s Award and Association President’s Award. Won the Traditional Craft Kinki Branch Exhibition Nikkei Honorable Mention Award and other awards. Selected for the Japan Traditional Craft Exhibition, Japan Ceramic Exhibition, Asahi Ceramic Exhibition, and other exhibitions. Repeatedly made unglazed plant patterns, and blue and white pottery and underglaze painting techniques were his focus. (more…)

Yamamoto Yukiko 山本由紀子

1949-femalekyo potteryFrom Kyoto. Graduated from Kyoto Bunkyo Junior College. Worked at the Sculpture Research Laboratory there. Selected for the Kansai Exhibition and Kyo Exhibition for sculptures. Graduated from the Kyoto Industrial Ceramic Technical Training Institute in 1974. Studied under Tsuji Kanji. Won the Modern Craft Exhibition KBS Kyoto Award and Gekka Award. Selected for the Nitten Exhibition and other exhibitions. Held private exhibitions at Kyoto Gallery Venichu and Gallery Maronie. Fellow Member of the Modern Craft Art Society. Created sculptures and painted tableware with glazes that changed while being fired. (more…)

Yamamoto Yukio 山本幸夫

1925-2000maleBorn in Ako-gun, Hyogo Prefecture, in 1953, he spent a year as a research student at the Tanabe class of the Department of Ceramics at Kyoto Institute of Technology, and in 1954, he built a climbing kiln in Tenjin-cho, Himeji City and became independent. In 1970, he moved his kiln to the mountains of Hayashida-cho because firing in a wood-fired kiln in the city became difficult. In 1970, he moved his kiln to the mountains of Hayashida-cho due to difficulties in firing wood-fired pottery in the city and inherited the name of Higashiyama-yaki pottery, also known as Himeji-yaki, which was (more…)

Yamamoto Yuichi 山本雄一

1935-malebizen potteryBorn in Inbe. The eldest son of Yamamoto Tohshu, he began making pottery in 1959 under his father. He has been selected for many prizes since then, including the Director’s Prize at the Higashi-Chugoku Branch Exhibition of Traditional Crafts, and has served as a judge. He is a regular member of Japan Kogei Association. He was awarded the Okayama Prefecture Governor’s Prize at the Bigei-kai Exhibition. Kanashige Toyo Prize. Okayama Nichinichi Newspaper Culture Award. Okayama Prefecture Culture Honorable Mention. Sanyo Newspaper Grand Prize at the Okayama Prefectural Exhibition. Director of Bizen Pottery Association. Chairman of the Bizen Pottery Association. (more…)

Yamamoto Fumiyo 山本芙美代

1941-femaleBorn in Tokyo. Graduated from Tokyo National University of Fine Arts and Music, majoring in ceramics. Studied under Fujimoto Yoshimichi, Tamura Koichi, and Asano Yo. After working as a part-time assistant in a research laboratory at Tokyo National University of Fine Arts and Music, established a kiln in Yui-cho in 1976. Selected for the Japan Traditional Craft Exhibition. Full member of Japan Kogei Association. Black, and white glaze. (more…)

Yamamoto Hiroshi 山本博

1948-Born in Edogawa-ku, Tokyo. Graduated from Musashino Art University, Department of Industrial Design. After working in the design office of a furniture company, he completed the Aichi Ceramic Vocational Training School and established his own kiln in Higashi Yamanashi-gun, Yamanashi Prefecture in 1984. He has held solo exhibitions in Yaizu, Shizuoka Prefecture, Aoyama, Tokyo, Akasaka Mitsuke, Toyokawa, Aichi Prefecture, and elsewhere. He mainly produces blue-and-white tableware. (more…)

Yamamoto Senzan 山本千山

1916-?Began training as a potter at a young age, and later established Jizo Kiln in Itayama-cho, Handa City. In 1972, he established the Ceramics Club. Won prizes at the Handa City Exhibition and other exhibitions. He uses ash glaze, well type and tenmoku. (more…)

Yamamoto Shota 山本鐘太

1950-2008maleBorn in Himeji City, studied under Ogami Noboru of Niwa ware in 1972, and returned to his hometown in 1974 to study under his father, Yamamoto Yukio. Awarded the Mayor’s Prize at the Himeji City Exhibition. Selected for the Hyogo Prefectural Exhibition. Solo exhibition at Mori Gallery. Mainly ash glaze, celadon, and high-fired unglazed ceramics. (more…)

Yamamoto Jinyo 山本潯陽

1942-2020malearita porcelainEstablished his own kiln in Arita Ceramic Village in 1975. Selected and awarded prizes at the Saga Bikyo Exhibition, the Prefectural Exhibition, the Kyushu-Yamaguchi Exhibition, the Kyushu Industrial Craft Exhibition, the West Japan Ceramic Art Exhibition, the Seibu Craft Exhibition, the Japan Traditional Craft Exhibition, and the Issui-kai Exhibition. Held solo exhibitions at Tokyo Gallery Gen, Yokohama Togei Gallery, Tohmakura, Fukuoka Nick, and others. His works are mainly blue-and-white, celadon, and overglaze enamel porcelain. (more…)

Yamamoto Shosei 山本象成

1948-malemino potteryBorn in Toki City. Graduated from Tajimi Technical High School, majoring in ceramics. While a student, he was selected and awarded prizes at the Toki, Tajimi, and Mizunami City Exhibitions. After working at the Toki Ceramics Experiment Station, he completed the Kyoto Pottery Training School. In 1972, he returned to his hometown to teach pottery at the Kenzan Pottery School, and his work has been featured in NHK’s TV programming “Faith in Clay and Fire Yamamoto Shosei” and other mass media. Exhibited at the 20th anniversary exhibition of the Society for the Study of Art and Cultural History. Solo (more…)

Yamamoto Shigeyuki 山本重行

1943-maleBorn in Kyoto. Graduated from Hiyoshi-oka High School. Participated in the establishment of Sumiyama Craft Village in 1969. Solo exhibitions at Gallery Maronie in Kyoto, Seikado in Aoyama, and others. overglaze enamels with zaffre, high-fired unglazed ceramics, and Irobo. (more…)

Yamamoto Kozan 3rd 三代 山本興山

1944-2021maleHis real name is Teruaki. Born in Oyabe City, Toyama Prefecture. His grandfather, Kozan I, was a high apprentice of the Meiji era potter Yokohagi Ikko, and his father, Kozan II, was an apprentice of Kitaoji Rosanjin. He is the third generation of Kozan Kiln. Solo exhibitions at Takaoka Museum, Osaka Gallery Fine Art, Nihonbashi Tokyu Department Store, etc. Focuses on tea ceremony ceramics. (more…)

Yamamoto Kosai 山本浩彩

1949-2019malekokuzo potteryHis real name is Eiji. He was born in a traditional Tottori kiln, Kokuzo-yaki pottery. Studied under his grandfather, Shuji, and father, Yanosuke, at a young age, and succeeded to the third generation of Kosai. He was awarded a prize at the Shinkozosha Exhibition and is a friend of the association. Exhibited at Kurayoshi Mingei Gallery, Tottori Daimaru Department Store and Yonago Takashimaya Department Store. Passionate about oil drop Tenmoku. (more…)

Yamamoto Koichi 山本幸一

1947-2020maleBorn in Fukuoka Prefecture. He began his training in 1972 in Koishiwara, Asakura County, and studied under Kajiwara Jiro. In 1978, he built a kiln in the middle of Mt. Kinpo. Solo exhibitions at Kumanichi Gallery and others. Works with pottery such as high-fired unglazed ceramics and zaffre. (more…)

Yamamoto Genta 山本源太

1942-malehoshino potteryFrom 1962, he studied under Okuda Yasuhiro at Ise Asakuma for five years, and in 1969, he revived Hoshino ware, which had been discontinued in the early Meiji period, in the mountains of Chikugo, where he discovered pottery clay from the remaining gold mines in the area. (more…)