Japanese potters

Aoki Masakatsu 青木昌勝

1978-maleBorn in Imari City, Saga Prefecture2002Joined the kiln in OokawachiyamaStudied under Nakamura Seiroku, an important intangible cultural asset of Saga Prefecture at the Ookawachiyama Traditional Industry Hall (training for successors) and Murashima Setsuzan for 5 years.2009Selected for the Western Traditional Crafts Exhibition2010 Selected, Seibu Traditional Crafts ExhibitionSelected, Western Traditional Crafts Exhibition2013Selected, Seibu Traditional Craft Exhibition2014Selected, The Ceramic Art ExhibitionSelected, Kyushu-Yamaguchi Ceramic ExhibitionSelected, Seibu Traditional Craft Exhibition2015Nikkan Kogyo Newspaper Award, 1st Section, Kyushu-Yamaguchi Ceramic ExhibitionSaga Prefecture Governor’s Prize, 2nd Section, Kyushu-Yamaguchi Ceramic ExhibitionCertified as a 1st class ceramics manufacturing technician (hand pottery, National Qualification)2016Selected, Arita International Ceramics Exhibition (former Kyushu-Yamaguchi Ceramics (more…)

Yoshimi Keiseki 吉見螢石

female 1965 Started calligraphy1975 Studied under calligrapher Kihara Kenseki1983 Selected for the Japan Calligraphy Institute Exhibition, and joined the Ikka1990 Started ceramic art1997 Built a kiln at home (Hotarugama)1998, 1999 Selected for the Japan Art Crafts Exhibition2000 Awarded a prize at Kishiwada City Exhibition, Sakai City Exhibition2001 Selected, The Ceramic Foundation Exhibition2002 Selected, The Ceramic Foundation Exhibition, Won a prize in the Matcha Bowl Contest2004 Permanent Exhibition “Space” at Kansai International Airport Observation Hall, Moved atelier to Kumatori Town2005 Built a semi-underground kiln, Osaka Kogei Exhibition, Selected, Fired Sue ware (first kiln)2006 Wrote “Yuyuyu” in commemoration of the completion of (more…)

Mitoh Rui 三藤るい

1978-femalekaratsu potteryBorn in Fukuoka City, Fukuoka Prefecture2006 Graduated from Arita Ceramic College, Saga, Japan　　 Studied under Kawakami Kiyomi in Karatsu2009 Built the Santo Kiln in Karatsu City and became independent (more…)

Fujita Keizo 藤田佳三

1963-maleBorn in Kyoto City1983 Graduated from Douda High School of Arts and Crafts, Kyoto1986 Graduated from Kyoto Junior College of Arts, majoring in ceramics (now Kyoto University of Art and Design)　　 Studied under Ogawa Bunsai V and Hayashi Hideyuki　　 Trained in Kyoto1998 First solo exhibition at Gallery Maronie, Kyoto　　 Trained in Tamba Tachikake, Sasayama, Hyogo1993 Opened his own kiln in Kameoka, Kyoto2001 Part-time lecturer at Kyoto University of Art and DesignSince then, he has held solo exhibitions at department stores and galleries up to the present. (more…)

Tada Yukifumi 多田幸史

1973-malekutani porcelainBorn in Kanazawa City, Ishikawa Prefecture1998 Graduated from Kinki University2002 Completed Kutaniyaki Technical Training Institute2004 Hokkaido Ceramic Art Exhibition Grand Prize2006 Encouragement Prize at the Exhibition of Traditional Crafts of Ishikawa2007 First prize at the 54th Japan Traditional Crafts Exhibition (since then, selected for the 55th to 60th exhibitions)2008 Excellence Prize, Traditional Kutaniyaki Craft Exhibition, purchased by Ishikawa Prefectural Museum of Art2009 Contemporary Art Exhibition, Honorable MentionHighest Prize, Nonoichi Art Exhibition2010 Accepted as a regular member of the Japan Kogei Association2010 Issuikai Fine Work Prize, Issuikai Ceramic Art Exhibition2011 Encouragement Prize, Traditional Kutaniyaki Craft ExhibitionIshikawa Traditional Crafts Exhibition, Hokkoku (more…)

Goseki Hiroshi 後関裕士

1988-maleBorn in Chiba Prefecture, Japan.2013 Graduated from Tohoku University of Art & Design, Department of Fine Arts, Ceramics Course Studied under Isezaki Jun, Important Intangible Cultural Property of Bizen ware2017 Selected for Tabe Chanoyu no Zokei Exhibition2019 Built kiln in Hitachi-Omiya, Ibaraki (more…)

Kawase Ryuichiro 川瀬隆一郎

1973-maleBorn in Nagasaki CityStarted making ceramics while studying at Yokohama National University2005 Built a kiln in Matsubara-cho, Nagasaki City2006 Solo exhibition at Ginza Art Gallery2012 Solo exhibition at Kofukuji Temple, Nagasaki City2018 “17 Japanese Artists Exhibition” in CroatiaSolo exhibition at Utsuwaya Ryouichiishi, Tokyo (and annually thereafter) (more…)

Kato Mami 加藤真美

?-female 2013 Juror, 31st Choza Prize Ceramic Art Exhibition, Free Division　　　 47th Women’s Ceramic Art, NHK Kyoto Broadcasting Station Prize2014 The 21st Shoroku Award Tea Ceremony Porcelain Exhibition, Shoroku Prize2015 The 42nd Mino Ceramic Art Exhibition, Chunichi Prize2016 Ceramica Multiplex 2016 (Croatia) Silver Prize　 Hagi Grand Prize IV, Honorable Mention Award2017 Hsinchu City Yingge Ceramic Museum Solo Exhibition (Taiwan)　 Tokai City Art Theater (Solo Exhibition)2019 The 44th Mino Ceramic Art Exhibition Grand Prize (more…)

Ito Hokuto 伊藤北斗

1961-maleBorn in Nakano Ward, Tokyo.Influenced by his father, who was a designer, he entered the Crafts Department of Tokyo University of the Arts. Attracted by the colorful and versatile works of Fujimoto Yoshimichi (later to become President of Tokyo University of the Arts and a Living National Treasure), a professor of ceramics at the time, he chose to study ceramics in his junior year.After completing the graduate course in ceramics at Tokyo National University of Fine Arts and Music, he became an apprentice of Mr. Fujimoto. After Mr. Fujimoto passed away, he built a kiln in Hino City, Tokyo, and (more…)

Yoshimoto Yasuhito 好本康人

1976-malebizen potteryBorn as the third son of Yoshimoto Shuho in Ibe, Bizen City2000 Graduated from Tokyo Zokei University, Department of Fine Arts, Fine Arts Course II (Sculpture).2004 Begins making ceramics under his father, Munemine, and mainly works with craftwork.2006 A pair of lions were presented to Kisato Shrine in Shimotsui, Kurashiki City, Okayama Prefecture.2009 Held a father-son pottery exhibition in Minami-Aoyama, Tokyo (more…)

Yoshimoto Atsuo 好本敦郎

1969-malebizen potteryBorn in Ibe, Bizen City1993 Graduated from Yokohama National University, Department of Architecture1995 Studied at the Institut National Supérieur des Beaux-Arts, Duperre, France from 1995 to 1997.2003 Returned to Japan and began making ceramics under the guidance of his father, Shuho (more…)

Yoshinobu Yuji 吉延雄次

1949-malebizen pottery1990 Graduated from Okayama Prefectural Ceramic Art Center1994 Built Ofuneishi Kiln at 957 Sasame, Yoshinaga-cho, Bizen City, Okayama Prefecture1995 Selected for the Okayama Prefectural Fine Arts Exhibition1999 Okayama Prefectural Fine Arts Exhibition, Encouragement Prize2000 Selected, Okayama Prefectural Fine Arts Exhibition2001 Selected, Okayama Prefectural Fine Arts Exhibition (more…)

Yokoyama Naoki 横山直樹

1970-malebizen potteryBorn in Osafune, Setouchi City, Okayama Prefecture1989 Okayama Prefectural Oku High School1991 Studied at Bizen Ceramic Art Center1992 Studied under Bizen ware artist Kawabata Fumio1995 Selected for the Tabe Museum of Art “Formative Exhibition of Tea Ceremony” (and once thereafter)1997 Selected, Okayama Prefectural Fine Arts Exhibition (since then, selected eight times and awarded three encouragement prizes)1998 Selected for the Chugoku Branch Exhibition of Japan Traditional Crafts (selected 6 times)2000 Built his own kiln in Koto, Bizen City, Japan2003 Selected, Japan Ceramic Art Exhibition2003 Selected, Japan Traditional Crafts Exhibition2007 Selected, Japan Traditional Ceramic Art Exhibition2008 Awarded Encouragement Prize at the (more…)

Yokoyama Shinichi 横山伸一

1961-malebizen potteryBorn in Ibe, Bizen City1995 Full member of the Japan Kogei AssociationIssuikai Prize and Honorable Mention four times at the Issuikai ExhibitionChugoku Branch Exhibition (Awarded Sanyo Newspaper Award, Honorable Mention 5 times)Bizen Toushinkai Exhibition (Tenmaya Prize, Sanyo Newspaper Award)Solo exhibitions at Shinjuku Odakyu Department Store (8 times)Selected for National Yakishime Competition.Kobe Daimaru Department Store, Solo Exhibition. (more…)

Yamane Akimasa 山根彰正

malebizen pottery 1977 Studied under Nishikawa Masami, a direct apprentice of the first Living National Treasure, Kinshige Toyo1990 Built a kiln on a pond in Ibe1991 Unveiling party at Hotel New Otani, Tokyo1997 Selected for the Yakishime Pottery Competition1999: Selected for three works at Nikki-Ten, Tokyo2000 Two works were selected for the Nikki-Ten exhibition.2001 Three works selected for Nikki-Ten, Japan2002 Bronze medal for one work at Nikki-Ten, Japan2005 Chrysanthemum Prize, Gengakkai Exhibition2008 Awarded a prize at the Gengakkai Exhibition (more…)

Morimoto Naoyuki 森本直之

1971-malebizen potteryBorn in Kurashiki city1990 Joined Okayama Bizen Ceramic Art Center1991 Studied under Mori Yasushi at Mori Hozan Kiln1996 First prize winner of the Okayama Prefectural Art Exhibition (since then, 14 times in total)2000 Became independent in Sayama, Bizen City2001 Selected for the Chugoku Branch Exhibition of Japan Traditional Crafts (since then, selected a total of 8 times)2002 Awarded Encouragement Prize at the Okayama Prefecture Art Exhibition.2002 First solo exhibition at Kurashiki Chuo Gallery2004 Solo exhibition at Ginza, Tokyo (subsequent solo exhibitions held in Yurakucho and Shinjuku)2008 Solo exhibition at Gallery Kaoru, Osaka2014 Solo Exhibition at Okayama Tenmaya Art Gallery (more…)

Miyao Masashiro 宮尾昌宏

1970-malebizen potteryBorn in Fukuoka Prefecture1995 Studied under Yamamoto Yuichi, an Important Intangible Cultural Asset designated by Okayama Prefecture2003 Awarded the Excellence Prize at the 20th Tabe Art Museum Grand Prize “Formative Art of Tea Ceremony”.2006 The 53rd Japan Traditional Crafts Exhibition, Chairman Prize of the Japan Kogei Association2007 The 50th Anniversary Exhibition of the Chugoku Branch of the Japan Kogei Association, Okayama City Mayor PrizeThe 8th Okayama Art and Culture Award, Second Grand PrixThe 4th Marusen Culture Award2008 The 14th Energia Art AwardThe 51st Exhibition of Japan Traditional Crafts Chugoku Branch, Japan Kogei Association AwardThe 9th Fukutake Culture Encouragement Prize2014 (more…)

Mizukami Gakusho 水上岳正

1958-malebizen potteryBorn in WakeGraduated from Shibaura Institute of Technology and worked as a designer for 7 years1989 Studied under Goto Gessui1990 Joined the Ceramic Art Center1991 Completed training at the Ceramic Art Center1993 Became independent1993 Opened a climbing kiln in Wake Town (more…)

Manago Koji 眞砂皓志

1982-malebizen pottery2005 Kyoto Traditional Crafts College　2007 Studied under Masaaki Inomata of Nishikurabo Kiln, Bizen ware until 20122012 Became independent (home and studio, Ikko kiln) (more…)

Matono Satoshi 的野智士

1971-malebizen potteryBorn in Bizen City, Okayama Prefecture1994 Graduated from Tokyo City University (former Musashi Institute of Technology)1996 Graduated from Okayama Prefectural Bizen Ceramic Art CenterTrained under his father, Matono Motomu2008 Selected for the 59th Okayama Prefecture Art Exhibition2010 Selected for the 25th National Cultural Festival Okayama 20102011 First time to climb the kiln for the third time as Yudachi Kiln2012 Invited by potters Shozo Michikawa and Patricia Cassone to participate in a workshop in France from building to firing underground cellar kiln (anagama), and accepted a request from EcoMuseѐ de la Tuilerie de Pouligny to restore an underground cellar kiln.Founded (more…)