Japanese potters

Miyagawa Kozan 3rd (Makuzu Kozan 3rd) 三代 宮川香山 (三代 真葛香山)

1881-1945malemakuzu potteryBorn in Yokohama, Kanagawa prefecture, as the son of the 2nd generation Miyagawa Kozan, he inherited as 3rd generation Kozan but lost his studio, employees, and family members in the 1945 Allied Bombing of Yokohama along with his own life. His younger brother Tomonosuke took on the family name as Kozan (4th generation) and aimed to rebuild the business, but this endeavor was abandoned when he died in 1961. (more…)

Miura Jozan 三浦常山

1836-1903malemumyoi potteryThe first Miura Jozan was born in Sado, Niigata prefecture, in 1836. He opened a kiln in his hometown in 1876 to investigate whether improvements could be made to Mumyoi-ware, which had been produced as an industry in the area. Traditional manufacturing methods had always resulted in primary colors being lost during kiln firing, but Miura Jozan succeeded in preserving a bright vermillion color unique to Mumyoi ware (known as Jozan-ware) for which he was awarded the Minister of Agriculture and Commerce’s Distinguished Service Award. The Miura family’s traditions were passed down through the 2nd generation Jozan to the (more…)

Miwa Kyusetsu 12th 十二代 三輪雪休

1940-malehagi potteryAlso as known as Miwa Ryukisho. Born the first son of MIWA Jusetsu XI in Hagi, Yamaguchi.1967　 Complete the graduating process at Department of Pottery, Tokyo University of Art. Created his first major work “High Heel”1974　Build a kiln in Hagi1977　Appointed as a professor at Hagi Women’s Junior College1979　 Become a member of International Academy of Ceramics1989　Japan Ceramic Awards1993　Established Hagi Tougeika Kyoukai, Hagi Society for Potters1999　Chugoku Cultural Award2003　Succeeded his name MIWA Kyusetsu XII2007　The exhibition of MIWA Kyusetsu, commemorating 25 anniversary of the friendship between Shandong Province, China and Yamaguchi Prefecture2011　Won a Gold prize at Japan Ceramic Society Award2019　Named himself Ryukisho (more…)

Miyagawa Kozan 2nd (Makuzu Kozan 2nd) 二代 宮川香山 (二代 真葛香山)

1858-1940malemakuzu potterySon of Chohei, brother of the 1st generation Makuzu Kozan, he often assisted his uncle in Yokohama making ceramics. After the 1st generation Kozan died in 1916, he was named 2nd generation Kozan. Inheriting his style from his uncle, he primarily produced sculptured vases, sculptured figurines and other works, often incorporating birds and flowers. More so than his predecessor, he based his work on scientific research into glazes, which allowed him to develop innovative new works that solidified the reputation of Makuzu-ware. (more…)

Miura Chikusen 4th 四代 三浦竹泉

1911-1976malekyo potteryEldest son of the 2nd generation Chikusen. Graduated from the Kyoto Institute of Design after studying painting, ceramics, sculpture and other art forms. Under the tutelage of Chikusen (3rd generation), he was named 4th generation Chikusen in 1931. Much of his work, done within the Miura family traditions of kinrande and red-painted ceramics, is extremely delicate and graceful, including sencha tea-ware featuring colored paintings. In 1972 he handed over the family business to his eldest son Toru and retired to work privately in ceramics. (more…)

Miura Chikken (Miura Chikusen 3rd) 三浦竹軒 (三代 三浦竹泉)

1900-1990malekyo potteryThird son of the 1st generation Chikusen, he assumed his father’s name as 3rd generation Miura Chikusen in 1921. Following untimely early death of his eldest brother Chikusen (2nd generation), he was named 3rd-generation Chikusen, but when Yozo, eldest son of Chikusen (2nd generation) was named Chikusen (4th generation), he split the family and renamed himself Miura Chikken. Chikken specialized in red-painted and kinrande ceramics, primarily producing sencha utensils and tea-ware such as confectionary dishes, vases and incense burners as well as figurines of people and animals. He was selected and certified by the government as a preserver of (more…)

Miura Chikusen 2nd 二代 三浦竹泉

1882-1920malekyo potteryEldest son of the 1st generation Chikusen, he took on his father’s name as Chikusen (2nd generation) in 1915, and followed in his footsteps in producing sencha tea-ware. Just 5 years after succeeding his father, he passed away at the young age of 39. (more…)

Miura Chikusen 1st 初代 三浦竹泉

1854-1915malekyo potteryBorn in Kyoto where he studied under Takahashi Dohachi the 3rd. Opened an independent kiln in Gojozaka in 1883. Successfully researched and developed a transparent glaze that allowed the use of Western colors on porcelain. Continued to pursue successful innovations with experiments into new artistics frontiers such as incorporating pearls and coral into blue-white porcelain and engravings into yellow glaze. Primarily produced tea-ware such as vases, tea cups, and sake sets, but is probably most renowned for his sencha tea sets. (more…)

Miyagawa Kozan 1st (Makuzu Kozan 1st) 初代 宮川香山 (初代 真葛香山)

1842-1916malemakuzu potterymushiake potteryimperial household artistBorn the fourth son of Miyagawa Chozo, his older brother Chohei was first in line as successor to their father, but when Chohei died at a young age, Kozan stepped into the place left by his brother and took over the family business at the age of 19. He had studied painting under Daigado Yoshiaki of Sorinji prior to returning to succeed his father in 1868, after which he went to Okayama for technical guidance at the Mushiake kiln. Opened a kiln in Yokohama in 1971 with the aim of exporting ceramics (known from then on (more…)

Miyagawa Chozo (Makuzu Chozo 1st) 宮川長造 (初代 真葛長造)

1797-1860malemakuzu potterymushiake potteryBorn into the Miyagawa family, who had worked as glaze merchants for generations. After studying under Aoki Mokubei, he began making his own ceramics, producing excellent examples of ninsei-utsushi (replica of Ninsei) and Raku-ware as well as notable work in porcelain such as iron red overglaze, Cochin-ware, and blue-white porcelain. Because so many of his finest works were produced during his time working in Makatsugahara in Higashiyama, Kyoto, he received the name “Makuzu” from Kanshoji Temple’s Yasui Monzeki (Monzeki means temple headed by members of the royal family or nobility) and his work became known as “Makuzu-ware.” as (more…)

Matsuyama Suketoshi 松山祐利

1917-2006maleMatsuyama Suketoshi graduated Teikoku Art School (currently Musashino Art University) the College of Craft and Design in 1944. During his time as a student, he worked as an apprentice to the living national treasure, Tomimoto Kenkichi. In 1946, he started working as an instructor in the Ehime Prefecture Uwajima Ceramic Factory, and became an apprentice to Kato Kobei the following year. In 1952, he established his kiln in Wakinoshima, Tajimi, but was invited to teach at Musashino Art University the following year. In 1955, he established a kiln in Kaiyuzan, Toki, Gifu Prefecture. He was appointed the head of Gifu (more…)

Matsumura Kyusuke 松村九助

1845-1912maleMatsumura Kyusuke was interested in pottery since he was young, and purchased a large amount of Western cobalt when Nagasaki started importing Western paints, selling the pigment in the Seto area for painting on Gosu ware from 1876. Kyusuke also started selling pottery, encouraging pottery craftsmen in Seto and Tajimi to use Western cobalt, and opened a shop in Yokohama to start exporting pottery abroad. He also founded “Kaiyo Company” in Nagoya, opening shops abroad, but dissolved the company in 1885 due to disagreements in business approaches. He then opened the independent Matsumura Shoten, and joined Tashiro Shoten in Yokohama (more…)

Matsumoto Yoshinobu 松本芳延

1838-1890maleA Tokyo Nishiki kiln painter, Matsumoto Yoshinobu was a shogunate vassal but hated samurai, and learned ukiyo-e as the apprentice of Utagawa Hiroshige and Kuniyoshi. In 1858, Yoshinobu was hired by Raku ware artist Mizushima Chubei and transitioned to become a painter. He became independent in 1867, and was in charge of painting for Miyagawa Kozan the First, Kiritsu Kosho Kaisha Company and Stream Company. He especially enjoyed painting tanuki, and opened a tanuki soup shop in Asakusa, Tokyo. (more…)

Marunaka Magohei 円中孫平

1830-1910malekutani porcelainA merchant from the end of the Edo period to Meiji. Marunaka Magohei’s former name was Ishisaki, but he was adopted by Nakanoya Magobei, a merchant in Kanazawa, then began working as a trader in Osaka and Yokohama. He visited the Philadelphia Centennial Exhibition in 1876, and began successfully exporting Kutani ware and silk. Magohei especially pushed Kutani ware as “Japan Kutani,” and the delicate golden pigment aka-e paintings became extremely popular abroad. In 1881, Magohei opened a store in France. (more…)

Manabe Seiryo 真鍋静良

1886-1963bizen potteryUpon relocating to Okayama in 1913, Manabe Seiryo adopted the artist name Seiko, then later Seiryo, working mainly as a metal artist and creating silver and bronze vases. However, he took an interest in pottery at around 1931, and received instruction from Kaneshige Toyo in Bizen. Around 1940, Seiryo established a kiln in Higashiyama, Okayama and created mainly Nanban ware and glazed items. Seiryo then established another kiln in Koyo, Akaiwa, (and changed his artist name to Hannyukyo) then established a Raku ware kiln in Higashiyama, Okayama in 1951, expanding on the range of his pottery work. (more…)

Maeno Kosen 3rd 三代 前野光泉

1943-maleReal name Masaru. Born in Kyoto. Maeno Kosen creates ceramics for daily use and tableware as the third generation potter in a Kyo ware pottery family line, starting from the first, Mojuro.Mojuro was an apprentice to Ito Ihei of the Seto pottery family during the Meiji period, and opened business at the current location of Yamatoji and Gojo Street in Higashiyama, Kyoto in 1912. Since then, the title of second generation was passed onto Koichi in 1939, and the title of third generation was passed onto Masaru in 1987. (more…)

Matano Shozan 俣野祥山

Meiji period – Showa periodawata potteryMatano Shozan was a Kyoto Awata ware pottery artist who learned pottery techniques from Taizan Yohei, and began his independent career by opening his kiln in Imamicho, Awata.Shozan created trade goods to be exported overseas, as well as the overglaze foundation to be sold wholesale to other manufacturers.Shozan closed his business in 1943 due to the governmental Awata ware business merger. (more…)

Matsushima Chogi 松島朝義

1947-maleryukyu-nanban potteryMatsushima began creating pottery in 1974, and has been working as an independent artist ever since.He was awarded the silver and bronze award in the Modern Okinawa Ceramic Art Exhibition, first prize in the Okinawa Kogei Exhibition, the award of excellence in the West Japan Ceramic Art Exhibition, the Modern Kogei Kyushu Association Board of Education Award, and many other awards and selections in various exhibitions.Matsushima creates yakishime pottery using pottery clay from Okinawa. (more…)

Matsui Tomoyuki 松井興之

1931-malebizen potteryAfter graduating from the National Kyoto Pottery Training School in 1950, Matsui Tomoyuki was apprenticed to the celebrated pottery artist Morino Kako. He was invited to work as an instructor at the Okayama Prefecture Bizen Ware Pottery Center, and began researching new shapes, yohen, and firing techniques of Bizen ware and continues to train young pottery artists.Matsui also creates his own works, and was selected to exhibit for the first time in the 1966 Japanese Traditional Kogei Exhibition, and continues to be exhibited in this show and other Japanese pottery exhibitions. He was selected to become an official member (more…)

Maruta Munehiko 丸田宗彦

1961-malekaratsu potteryBorn to the family of Karatsu ware potters in Saga Prefecture, Maruta Munehiko trained under Mashiko ware artist Hamada Atsuya after graduating high school.After returning home, Munehiko opened the Uchida Saraya kiln in 1988 and started his independent career, and exhibited his works in solo exhibitions in venues such as Kuroda Toen and Umeda Hankyu.Upon recognizing the depth and richness of Saga’s Karatsu ware while training in Mashiko ware, Maruta continues to collect and research pieces of pottery from old kiln ruins, creating pieces that combine the mood of old Karatsu ware with modern pottery. (more…)