Japanese potters

Miyasho Itto 宮荘一藤

1846-1919malekutani porcelainBorn into the nobility of the Kaga-han domain, following the Meiji Restoration he studied ceramic painting. In 1882, he and Nomura Yoshikichi, a contemporary ceramics painter, decided to write fine print on ceramics, going on to leave their names as master craftsmen of the Meiji period. After sales of his ceramics at the Vienna World’s Fair, he began focusing on trade for which he became known as the founder of Japan’s raw silk exports. (more…)

Mizuno Juzan 2nd 二代 水野寿山

1908-1978seto potteryReal name Sakae. Studied under Sakae’s father as well as Fujii Tatsukichi. Mainly produced Kuro-oribe, Koseto-sha, and Kizeto tea-ware. Selected for the Nitten Exhibition and also exhibited at many local exhibitions. (more…)

Mizuno Juzan 水野寿山

1877-1931maleseto potteryReal name Jutaro. Worked as a potter in Seto until he built a kiln in 1907 and went independent. Developed a good reputation for beautiful tea-ware produced on the potter’s wheel, some of which was used by the Imperial Household and the Tokugawa family. set of 9 plates 15,000 JPY (more…)

Miwa Kyusetsu 9th 九代 三輪休雪

1868-1953malehagi potteryThe Potter’s title is Miwa Setusdo. Born in Hagi, Yamaguchi prefecture, as the 9th generation of the Miwa family who have been engaged in Hagi-ware production for the former Hagi clan for many generations. He is also known for being the father of the 10th generation Kyusetsu (Kyuwa) and 11th generation (Jusetsu), who both became living national treasures. Produced traditional Hagi-ware faithfully including tastefully constructed tea-ware, which was known under the name Kyusetsu well into the early Showa period until he retired in 1945, after which it was produced under the new name Setsudo. (more…)

Miura Hihaku 三浦飛白

1929-?maleBorn in Kyoto as the second son of Miura Chikken, he worked under his father from a young age, becoming familiar with ceramics. Later studied under Yagi Isso and Kimura Morikazu, as well as at the Kansai Bijutsuin, where he learned painting and drawing techniques. Went independent under the name Hihaku in 1958. In addition to Kyo-ware, his work was inspired by older styles but also incorporated vivid modern patterns and designs. He left behind many exquisite works such as Ido teacups, brush-marked ceramics, and Oribe ceramics. (more…)

Mizukoshi Yosobei 2nd 二代 水越与三兵衛

Late Edo period-1845malekoto porcelainAs with his predecessor, the exact birth date for the 2nd generation Yosobei are unknown, but he was the son of the 1st generation Yosobei and inherited the family business. While his work was not held in such esteem as that of his father, he inherited a general artistic touch, with a reputation for images of pine trees as well as colored porcelain featuring flower petals blurred with blue-white or green glaze. Due to his skills with blue-white porcelain, he was invited to the Hikone Koto-ware kiln and Himeji-han domain kiln and was engageed in ceramics production (more…)

Mizukoshi Yosobei 1st 初代 水越与三兵衛

Late Edo periodmaleA potter in Kyoto during the Bunka period (1804-1818), he was born the son of Sugiura Nizo, a wealthy merchant from Sanjo, Kyoto, but took on the surname Mizukoshi from his mother’s side. Developed a passion for ceramics at a young age and, after training with ceramics in Okazaki, opened a kiln in Gojo. In the beginning, he worked on producing copies of various kilns such as Nanban, Karatsu, Hagi and Kizeto, but from 1802 onward, he worked in opposition to Imari-ware alongside Nin’ami Dohachi and Wake Kitei to produce Kiyomizu-ware, leaving behind exquisite works in blue-white and (more…)

Miyagawa Kosai 3rd 三代 宮川香斎

1894-1919malemakuzu potteryBorn in Kyoto as the eldest son of the 2nd generation Kosai, the took on the name as 3rd generation after his father retired, but died in 1919 at the young age of 35, meaning that he left very little behind in terms of works and materials. After his death, his younger brother took over the family business as 4th generation Kosai. (more…)

Miyagawa Kosai 4th 四代 宮川香斎

1897-1987malemakuzu potteryBorn the second son of the 2nd generation Kosai, his older brother originally succeeeded their father as 3rd generation, but passed away within 5-6 years of taking the name, leaving the younger son to take on the family name as 4th generation Kosai. Studied tea ceremony under Hisada Soya (11th generation Mutekisai) from 1929 and began producing tea-ware. Starting around 1934, he began to use the name Makuzu Kosai as well, inheriting this name as well as Miyagawa, meaning that the 5the generation Miyagawa Kosai would be the 2nd Makuzu Kosai and the 6th Miyagawa Kosai would be the (more…)

Miyagawa Kosai 2nd 二代 宮川香斎

1846-1922malemakuzu potteryAdopted by the 1st Miyagawa Kosai when he was a child. Studied ceramics under his adopted father and Miyagawa Chozo. While working at the Makuzu kiln (from the 1st Kozai), he was appointed to Nishi Honganji Temple where he was in charge of the production of “Ichimonji Goki Teacups” at the time of the Buddhist monk Shinran’s 650th anniversary in 1911. Retired in 1913. (more…)

Miyagawa Kosai 6th 六代 宮川香斎

1944-malemakuzu potteryGraduated from the Department of Sculpture of the Faculty of Fine Arts at Tokyo Zokei University. In 2002, he was named 6th generation Kosai after his father (5th generation Kosai) retired. He also goes by the name Makuzu Kosai (3rd generation), having inherited the tea-ware making techniques of the Miyagawa family. Mainly focused on producing tea cups and mizusashi (water jugs) featuring delicately painted flowers, trees, and birds. When he assumed his inherited name, a commemorative exhibition was held. Currently, he focuses on presenting new works of tea-ware under the name Miyagawa Kosai primarily at solo exhibitions in department (more…)

Mimura Tokei 三村陶景

1885-1956malebizen potteryBorn in Mitsuishi, Bizen, Okayama prefecture. From his earliest work onward, he conducted continuous research into colored Bizen-ware and white Bizen-ware from the Edo period, producing many excellent figurines of people and animals as well as traditional pieces such as kyusu teapots while protecting the tradition of hand-twisted pottery rather than using a wheel. Alongside his own ceramics, he established the first Bizen-ware training institute (Inbe Ceramics School) in Inbe, which trained many master crafstmen, a further contribution of his to the fame of modern Bizen-ware. (more…)

Miura Kohei 三浦小平

1898-1972malemunyoi potteryBorn the son of 3rd generation Miura Jozan, he grew up within the ceramics industry before moving to Tokyo to study painting in order to improve his technique. After returning to his hometown, he founded the Kodaira kiln, and while showing respect to the tradition of Mumyoi-ware, he set out to create a new style. His own son Miura Koheiji became a living national treasure. (more…)

Miura Kenya 三浦乾也

1821-1889malekyo potteryAlso known as Ogata Kenzan the 6th. After the death of his father, Seishichi, he was taken in by his uncle, Ida Kichiroku, and focused on Raku ware.At first, he made a living making clay dolls, but later he was discovered by Nishimura Myakuan (5th generation Kenzan, 1784-1853) and started making maki-e lacquerware in the Ogawa Haritsu (Lacquer artist, 1663-1747) style around 1845. He also excelled at pottery, and after receiving a copy of Kenzan’s biography from Nishimura, he began to make pottery in the style of Ogata Kenzan and took the name Kenzan VI. In addition to pottery, (more…)

Miwa Kyusetsu 13th 十三代 三輪雪休

1951-malehagi potteryReal name is Miwa Kazuhiko. Born in Yamaguchi prefecture as the third son of the 11th Miwa Kyusetsu and the younger brother of Miwa Ryusaku (currently 12th generation Miwa Kyusetsu) and Miwa Eizo. Despite growing up in such a traditional household, he was strongly influenced by his eldest brother’s work and studied in the United States at SAI (San Francisco Art Institute) for seven years starting in 1975 to develop his molding and shaping skills. After returning to Japan, he pushed the boundaries of ceramic art, experimenting with fusing traditional Hagi-ware with his knowledge of objets d’arts. In addition (more…)

Miyanaga Tozan 3rd 三代 宮永東山

1935-maleReal name Rikichi. Followed his father Miyanaga Tozan, a specialist in celadon and blue-white porcelain, into the world of pottery. After graduating from university, he studied under Yagi Kazuo, a leading figure in the modern abstract ceramic art world, as well under Horiuchi Masakazu and others, focusing on ceramics more from an aesthetic sensibility (as objets d’arts) than as items for practical daily use. Went to the United States in 1959 and joined the Art Students League. Joined Sodeisha in 1970. Exhibited at the Kyoto National Museum of Modern Art Modern Art Trend Exhibition, Seibu Ikebukuro Clay Work Exhibition, Contemporary (more…)

Miyagawa Kosai 1st 初代 宮川香斎

1819-1865malemakuzu potteryStudied under Miyagawa Chozo. Received a tosui-goseki seal from Kyoto shugoshoku (military commissioner) Matsudaira Katamori that would be passed on to his successors. Also inherited the name of his teacher “Makuzu” from whom he also inherited the second generation of Makuzu-ware. After retiring he took the name of Jihei, with his name Kosai and Jihei passed on down through the generations. Currently Miyagawa Kosai (5th generation) has inherited Makuzu-ware as 6th generation in that lineage. (more…)

Miyanaga Tozan 宮永東山

1867-1941maleBorn in Kyoto prefecture. Studied Chinese celadon and blue-white ceramics. His main artistic focus was on tea-ware such as vases, cups, incense burners and kensui (waste-water containers for the tea ceremony). He also excelled at producing sculptured lion figurines. (more…)

Mitsui Tamekichi 3rd 三代 三ツ井為吉

1935-malekutani porcelainBorn in Ishikawa prefecture. After graduating from Kanazawa College of Art, he worked as an assistant to Kitade Tojiro and later studied under Asakura Isokichi. Selected for the first time for the Contemporary Art Exhibition in 1960. Followed in his father’s and grandfather’s footsteps when he began working with Kutani-ware in 1961. Selected for the Asahi Ceramics Exhibition in 1964 for the first time and the Japan Contemporary Art Exhibition in 1967. Since first traveling to Europe in 1969, he has continued to go overseas to conduct research and received the Minsiter of Labor’s Award in 1971. Often holds (more…)

Miyagi Sumiko 宮城須美子

1939-2019tsuboya potteryfemaleBorn in Okinawa as the eldest daughter of Kinjo Jiro, a living national treasure. Along with her older brothers Toshio and Toshiaki, she inherited her father’s style of Tsuboya-ware. (more…)