Japanese potters

Matsumoto Atsuji 松本篤治

1981-malebizen potteryJoined a pottery in Bizen City1982 Trained under his uncle1985 Became independent1992 First solo exhibition in Yokohama1997 Joined the Bizen Pottery Association2011 Certified as a traditional Bizen ware craftsman2013 BlueBizen certified as Okayama Prefecture Management Innovation2014 Registered BlueBizen trademark2015 BlueBizen Marble won the Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology Award at the Gengakai Exhibition (more…)

Matsushima Hiroshi 松嶋弘

1960-malebizen pottery1983 Graduated from Tama Art University, Department of Graphic Design1983 Studied under the late Kaneshige Michiaki, an Important Intangible Cultural Property of Okayama Prefecture (for four years)1989 Awarded the Encouragement Prize for Newcomers to the Asahi Ceramic Art Exhibition1990 Awarded the Excellent Work Prize at the Asahi Ceramic Art Exhibition.1991 Awarded the Special Prize at the Asahi Ceramic Art Exhibition.Awarded the Governor’s Prize at the Okayama Prefecture Art Exhibition.1992 Awarded the Governor Prize of Shimane Prefecture at the Chugoku Branch Exhibition of the Japan Kogei Association.1993 Awarded Regular Member of the Japan Kogei Association.Solo Exhibition at Okayama Tenmaya Flagship (more…)

Matsui Hiroyuki 松井浩之

1962-malebizen potteryBorn in Bizen City, the eldest son of Matsui Tomoyuki1987 Completed Kyoto Municipal Industrial Research Institute1993 Debut exhibition at Okayama Takashimaya (1997, 2001, 2005, 2010, 2013, 2016)1995 Sanyo Newspaper Prize, Okayama Prefecture Art Exhibition1996 Chugoku Branch Exhibition of Japan Traditional Crafts, Japan Kogei Association Prize1998 Selected, Japan Traditional Crafts Exhibition, Japan2000 Selected, Japan Traditional Crafts Exhibition, Japan2006 Ceramics Exhibition at Yonago Takashimaya, Takashimaya, Yonago, Japan (2009, 2011, 2014)2015 Selected, Exhibition of Japanese Traditional Crafts, JapanSelected, Japan Traditional Art Crafts Exhibition, 2016Recognized as a regular member of the Japan Kogei Association (more…)

Horie Masaomi 堀江政臣

1978-malebizen potteryBorn in Ibe, Bizen City2004 Studied under Yukuni Kaneshige2007 Works under Horie Shozan2011 First solo exhibition in Kobe (more…)

Hosokawa Takahiro 細川敬弘

1979-malebizen potteryBorn in Okayama1999 Graduated from Bizen Ceramic Art Center, studied under his grandfather Takemura Eiraku2008 Solo exhibition at Naganawa Pottery, Tokyo (and annually since 2010)2011 Awarded the Encouragement Prize at the 28th Tabe Museum of Art Chanoyu no Zokei Exhibition2012 Solo exhibition at Asuka Gallery, Okayama2014 Solo exhibition at Kurashiki Tenmaya, Okayama2015 Solo exhibition at Frederick Harris Gallery, Tokyo (more…)

Hoshi Masayuki 星正幸

1949-malebizen potteryBorn in Tokyo, Japan1973 Graduated from Sophia University, Faculty of Letters, Department of Philosophy1979 Resigned from Bizen Toen and joined “Aioi Grand Kiln” of Mori Togaku.1981 Built a half-ground kiln with a direct flame, first firing in January of the following year1986 Held a solo exhibition at Tekona in Nagoya (held every other year), and was selected for the Issuikai Ceramic Art Exhibition (1992).1987 Awarded the ” Glossary of Art” Prize at the Issuikai Prize for Encouragement at the Issuikai Ceramic Art Exhibition, and held a solo exhibition at the Arai Gallery in Ginza.1988 Issuikai Prize for fine work (more…)

Buyo Takashi 武用崇

1970-malebizen pottery1995 Graduated from Tokyo Zokei University, Department of Sculpture1996 – 1998 Studied in Barcelona, Spain2001 Exhibition at Matsuya Ginza, TokyoJoined Toushin-Kai2003 Solo exhibition at Matsuya Ginza (and annually thereafter)2004 Three-person exhibition at Okayama Takashimaya Department Store2005 Three-person exhibition at Takashimaya, Yonago2007 Solo Exhibition at Okayama Takashimaya Department Store2008 Two-person exhibition at Ehime Iyotetsu Takashimaya Department StoreSolo Exhibition at Fukuya Hatchobori, Hiroshima (more…)

Fujiwara Tadaaki 藤原忠秋

1955-malebizen potteryBorn in Honami, Bizen City1975 Joined the Ceramic Art Center1976 Trained for 10 years at both Tokei-do and Nanzan Kiln1987 Became independent2000 Selected for the National Traditional Crafts Competition2008 Certified as a traditional craftsman (more…)

Fujiwara Kenji 藤原賢史

1976-malebizen potteryBorn as the second son of his father, Sueomi1997 Graduated from Osaka College of Art, Osaka University of Arts1998 Graduated from Okayama Prefectural Bizen Ceramic Art Center2005 Selected for the 35th All Ceramic Exhibition56th Okayama Prefectural Art Exhibition, Incentive Prize2006 Ceramics Exhibition at Mitsukoshi Niigata Store2012 Encouragement Prize, 63rd Okayama Prefectural Art Exhibition2013 Ceramics Exhibition at JR Osaka Mitsukoshi Isetan2014 Selected, 65th Okayama Prefectural Art Exhibition, Okayama, Japan2015 Selected, 32nd Chanoyu no Zokei Exhibition (more…)

Fujiwara Kikuyo 藤原喜久代

1963-femalebizen potteryBorn in Ida Village, Bizen City as the second daughter of Fujiwara Ken (Prefectural Intangible Cultural Property)Trained under potters Kiyoaki Tsuji and Kyou and his wife1990 First firingSelected for the Women’s Ceramic Art ExhibitionSelected for the Prefectural ExhibitionAwarded the Encouragement Prize at the Prefectural Exhibition (more…)

Fujiwara Akira 藤原章

1981-malebizen potteryBorn in Nara Prefecture1999 After graduating from high school, entered Kyoto Traditional Crafts College2001 After graduation, joined Shigaraki Pottery2003 Apprenticed under Bizen ware artist Fujimi Shun’ichi2008 Moved to Chiihara, Wake-cho, Wake-gun, and built a climbing kiln by hand2010 Opened his first kiln2011 Joined the Bizen ToshinkaiSelected for the Chugoku Branch Exhibition of Traditional CraftsAwarded Encouragement Prize at the National Cultural Festival of Art ExhibitionJoined the Bizen-yaki Toyukai (more…)

Fujimori Shintaro 藤森信太郎

1976-malebizen pottery2000 Graduated from Kokushikan University, Faculty of Political Science and Economics2001 Started his career as a ceramic artist under his father, Fujimori Tohshi, a Bizen Pottery artist.Entered the Bizen Ceramic Center as a trainee ceramic technician in Okayama Prefecture and trained in ceramic techniques.2003 Completed the course at Bizen Ceramic Center (more…)

Fujita Sho 藤田祥

1978-malebizen potteryBorn in Wakayama City1987 Studied general art for 4 years at the class of Ono Kyoji, a Western-style painter.1993 Studied design for 3 years at the class of Yamauchi Hisamitsu, a Western-style painter1997 Learned the basics of ceramics under the tutelage of potters Kawasaki Yasuaki and Nakamura Minoru in Wakayama City1998 Joined the Ceramic Art Center1999 Joined Hashimoto Gallery after completing the course at the same institute. Studied under Bizen ware artist Hashimoto Kazuya for 5 years.2003 Selected for the Okayama Prefecture Art Exhibition2004 Became independent and opened his first kiln.Held a solo exhibition at the Tokeido main store (more…)

Tsuchitani Zuiko 3rd 三代 土谷瑞光

1928-2013malekyo potteryTsuchitani Zuiko III (Real name was Tsuchitani Minoru) was born in Kyoto City in 1928. He was the third generation of Tsuchitani Zuiko, descended from Kiyomizu Rokubey the 1st (1738-1799). Zuiko the 2nd was the head of the Zuiko Kiln in Imakumano, which he opened after splitting off from the Rokubey kiln in Gozozaka opened by Rokubey the 1st.After graduating from Kyoto Technical College (now Kyoto Institute of Technology) with a bachelor’s degree in ceramics, and from Doshisha University in 1950 with a bachelor’s degree in economics, he studied under his father, Zuiko II.He studied celadon glaze, cinnabar glaze, (more…)

Hirakawa Tadashi 平川忠

1955-malebizen potteryBorn as the eldest son of Hirakawa Shoji, a potter1981 Graduated from Kanazawa Institute of Technology, Department of Architecture1989 Started researching medieval Bizen ware at the same time as becoming independent.May: Built a pottery studio and a climbing kiln at the foot of Bishamon Mountain in Shinjo, Bizen City.October: Opened his first kiln.Selected for the 40th Okayama Prefectural Art Exhibition.2001 Started various tests for a semi-underground cellar kiln2003 September: Completed an earthen kiln (test kiln) based on an old kiln in Muromachi, which he had been working on since 2002.December: The first firing of the restored kiln (earthen kiln) (more…)

Harada Togetsu 2nd 二代 原田陶月

1953-malebizen potteryBorn in Ibe, Bizen City as Second son of Harada Togetsu I. Real name is Harada Kokichi.1972 Joined the Ceramic Art Center1972 Selected for the Chugoku Branch of the Japan Traditional Crafts Association2010 Succeeded to the second generation after the death of his father, Togetsu (more…)

Baba Takashi 馬場隆志

1983-malebizen potteryBorn as the eldest son of Baba Shosuke2006 Graduated from Tokyo National University of Fine Arts and Music, Department of Sculpture2008 Selected for the Okayama Prefecture Art Exhibition (and three times thereafter)2012 Created a monument in front of JR Katakami Station2015 Selected for the Japan Traditional Crafts Chugoku Branch Exhibition (and once since)2016 Selected, Chanoyu no Zokei Exhibition2016 Solo exhibition at Isetan Shinjuku (again in 2017)2017 Solo exhibition at Hankyu Umeda Art Gallery2017 Okayama Art Exhibition, Okayama City Mayor Prize2018 Two-person exhibition at Nihonbashi Mitsukoshi Art Square2018 Dispatched to Hoi An, Vietnam as part of an international exchange program (more…)

Hanafusa Soichi 花房壮一

1948-malebizen potteryBorn in Uraibe, Bizen City as the second son of a traditional craftsman, Hanafusa Hideyasu.1984 Learned from his father and inherited his techniques.1991 Took over the kiln and opened his first kiln independently. (more…)

Hashimoto Kazuya 橋本和哉

1968-malebizen potteryBorn in Okayama City1988 Graduated from Okayama Prefectural Bizen Pottery Center1989 Graduated from Aichi Prefectural College of Ceramic Technology and joined Bishugama Co.Studied under the late Yamamoto Toshu (Living National Treasure) and Yamamoto Yuichi (Prefectural Intangible Cultural Asset)2008 Okayama Prefecture Art Exhibition, Sanyo Newspaper Company PrizeAwarded the Member Excellence Prize at the All Pottery Exhibition, and nominated for the Board of Directors.2010 The 25th National Cultural Festival Art Exhibition, Ceramics Division, Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology Award2013 Japan Traditional Crafts Chugoku Branch Exhibition, Sanyo Broadcasting System Award2014 Awarded Excellence Prize, Tabe Museum of Art “Forms of (more…)

Norimatsu Miho 乗松美歩

1987-femaleBorn as the eldest daughter of grandfather Norimatsu Toshiyuki and father Norimatsu Kenko2009 Graduated from Okayama University of Commerce2010 Completed Bizen Ceramic Art Center2013 Fires first kiln2014 Kurashiki-Toukeido main store, first solo exhibition2015 Kurashiki-Toukeido main store, solo exhibition2015 Selected for Okayama Prefecture Art Exhibition2016 Selected for the Chugoku Branch Exhibition of Japan Traditional Crafts (twice since then)Member of the Chugoku Branch of the Japan Traditional Crafts AssociationMember of BIGEIKAI (more…)