Japanese potters

Minagawa Michiko 皆川典子

1937-femaleGraduated from Jissen Women’s University. Started making ceramics by hand in Yokote, Akita in 1974. Won the Women’s Association of Ceramic Art Exhibition Grand Prize and Minister of Education’s Award. Selected for the Nitten Exhibition and other exhibitions. Works focus on porcelain with Zogan inlay work and marbled ware. (more…)

Minagawa Tsutomu 皆川労

1950-maleStarted training at the ceramic studio in Kasama in 1973. Studied ceramics for common people at Sakuma Totaro’s kiln in Mashiko in 1981. Started a kiln in Yamato Village in 1983 and became independent. Works focus on tableware, flower bowls, and terracotta using Haikatsugi, celadon, and Yakishime. (more…)

Minagawa Takashi 皆川隆

1930-maleshigaraki potteryFrom Shigaraki. Started Tsuchinoko kiln. Uses ascending kilns and cellar kilns for firing. Studied under Komori Shoan. Mainly engaged in private exhibitions and held private exhibitions at Kuroda Toen in Ginza, the Masudaya in Shin-Okubo, the Isetan in Shinjuku, the Mitsukoshi in Osaka, the Maruei in Nagoya, and the Fukuya in Hiroshima. (more…)

Midorikawa Hiroki 緑川宏樹

1938-2010maleFrom Tokyo. Studied under Yamada Hikaru from Kyoto. Became a member of Sodeisha in 1971 and began exhibiting. Made ceramics in Iwaki, Fukushima. Selected for the Japan Ceramic Exhibition, Japan Contemporary Fine Art Exhibition, and Zagreb World Small Ceramic Exhibition and won awards. Held private exhibitions at the Jujiya in Sendai, Toyu, and other venues. (more…)

Mitsuhashi Takeo 三橋武雄

1921-?maleAfter working as an Executive and Factory Manager at Comokin Co., Ltd., sought to make ceramics. Studied under Watanabe Aisei at Ginza Pottery School. (more…)

Mitsuhashi Shunji 三橋俊治

1940-maleFrom Hirai, Tokyo. Graduated from the Faculty of Economics at Waseda University. Started studying Raku ware and ceramics under Yoshita Minori while at university. Works focus on flower bowls and planting pots using Jun ware and Zogan inlay work. (more…)

Mitsuhashi Eisaku 三橋英作

1929-2008maleshinshu potteryFrom Kamagaya, Chiba. Graduated from the Faculty of Horticulture at Chiba University. Later sought to make ceramics, studied under Itaya Hazan and Miyanohara Ken in 1955, and joined the Totokai. Member of the Nitten Exhibition, Contemporary Craft Art Society, and New Japan Craft Art Society. Executive Director of the Prefectural Fine Art Society. Works focus on colored porcelain, celadon, and Yakishime. (more…)

Mitsuno Mamoru 三津野衛

1946-maleDropped out of Meiji Gakuin University. Graduated from the Tottori Prefectural Industrial Experimental Institute. Started Tokorogo kiln in 1975. Works focus on Setoguro ware and Kuro Oribe ware tea bowls. teabowl 1,000 JPY 鳥取県西伯郡大山町所子 所子焼 (more…)

Mitsuke Fumio 見附文雄

1939-malebizen potteryFrom Wake District. Graduated from Kansai University. After working at a brick company, studied under Fujiwara Ken in 1971. Became independent in 1973. Selected for the Chugoku Contemporary Ceramic Exhibition and the Issuikai Exhibition. (more…)

Mitsui Hisashi 三井尚

1962-maleGraduated from the Faculty of Economics at Yokohama National University. Joined Mitsui Engineering & Shipbuilding in 1986. Began engaging in ceramics while studying in university and is presently studying under Nagumo Ryu and making ceramics at Ryu kiln during days off and long-term vacations from work. Works focus on rounded objects using Himozukuri techniques fired in cellar kilns. Planned a ceramic exhibition by businesspeople together with friends from his student days. (more…)

Mitsui Eiichi 三ツ井詠一

1935-malekutani porcelainAlso known as Mitsui Tamekichi the 3rd. From Ehime Prefecture. Graduated from the Faculty of Ceramics at Kanazawa College of Art in 1959. Studied under Kitade Tojiro and Asakura Isokichi. Succeeded his father Tamekichi, the leading apprentice of the 1st generation Tokuda Yasokichi, in 1961 and assumed the name of the 3rd generation Tamekichi. Selected for the Asahi Ceramic Exhibition, Japan Contemporary Craft and Fine Art Exhibition, Nitten Exhibition, and other exhibitions and won awards. Fellow Member of the Contemporary Craft and Fine Art Society. Held private exhibitions in Nihombashi, the Takashimaya in Yokohama, the Seibu in Ikebukuro, the (more…)

Michishita Kiichi 道下喜一

1949-malebizen potteryFrom Kumamoto. After dropping out of Kumamoto Commercial High School, graduated from Aichi Prefectural Ceramic Training Institute. After training at Shunkoen in Bizen, studied under Matsui Tomoyuki. Became independent in 1984. Selected for the Traditional Craft Art Branch Exhibition, Okayama Prefectural Exhibition, and other exhibitions. (more…)

Mizokami Sofu 溝上藻風

1939-malekaratsu potteryFrom Nagasaki Prefecture. Graduated from the Department of Ceramics at Arita Technical High School. Started Imadake kiln in Imari, Saga in 1966. Studied under Inoue Manji and Nakazato Tarouemon. Selected for the Nitten Exhibition for the first time in 1970. Selected numerous times since then and became a Fellow Member. Won the Kofukai Exhibition Honorable Mention Award and numerous other awards. Member of the Japan New Craft Art Association and a Board Member of the Kyushu Branch of the association. Director of the Saga Prefectural Ceramic Society. President of the Imari Fine Art Society. Works focus on Karatsu ware, (more…)

Mizuno Masumi 水野真澄

1955-maletokoname potteryWorked with well-known Mizuno Shizu Ceramics. Studied under Sawada Shigeo. Participant and award-winner in the Asahi Ceramics Exhibition ’75 Award. Recipient of the Choza Award Ceramics Exhibition Honorable Mention, Selected for the Choza Award. Selected for the Japan Contemporary Craft Art Exhibition, others. Held solo exhibitions, other exhibitions. (more…)

Mizuno Masayoshi 水野正善

1943-malemashiko potteryBorn in Hyogo prefecture. Graduated from the Academy of Performing Arts in 1966. Later studied making ceramics under Narii Tsuneo in Mashiko in 1974. Founded a kiln in Nanai, Mashiko, in 1978 and went independent. Loose style primarily focused on inlay. (more…)

Mizuno Hiroshi 水野博司

1950-maletokoname potteryStudied under Yamada Jozan. Selected for the Tokai Traditional Crafts Exhibition, Chunichi International Ceramics Exhibition, Choza Award Ceramics Exhibition, others. In addition to traditional techniques using vermilion clay and purple clay, also used algae-grilled firing that creates a seaweed glaze, and other techniques. (more…)

Mizuno Hidemichi 水野英通

1947-malemino potteryBorn in Jorinji, Izumi-cho, Gifu prefecture. Entered the family ceramics business some time around 1976. Founded the Kikuseki kiln in 1978 where he made ceramics by hand. Worked alongside his father and younger brother. Primarily focused on tableware using tatara methods. (more…)

Mizuno Hideo 水野英男

1932-2014maleobayashi potteryBorn in Iida, Nagano prefecture. Inheriting the family business inspired the desire to create ceramics. Trainee at the Kyoto Ceramics Research Institute in 1951. Studied under Okabe Mineo in 1960. Participant and award-winner at the Japanese Traditional Crafts Exhibition, New Works Exhibition, Asahi Ceramics Exhibition. Winner of the Shin-etsu Broadcasting Award, other honors. Member of the Japan Kogei Association. Held solo exhibitions at Ginza Matsuya, Mune Kogei, Nagoya Matsuzakaya, Nihonbashi Takashimaya. Primarily focused on ash glaze, iron glaze, yakishime. (more…)

Mizuno Hanjiro 6th 六代 水野半次郎

1926-?maleseto potteryBorn into the family business: the Hongyo Kiln of Seto. Graduated from the Faculty of Law at Chuo University. Studied under Yanagi Soetsu. Recipient of Japan Folk Crafts Museum Folk Crafts Exhibition Award, Honorable Mention, Japan Ceramics Exhibition Mainichi Newspaper Award. Noborigama climbing kiln was designated a Seto cultural property in 1977. Primarily focused on sansai, blue dyeing, iron glaze, kizeto. (more…)