1955-
male
bizen pottery
Born as the eldest son of Hirakawa Shoji, a potter
1981 Graduated from Kanazawa Institute of Technology, Department of Architecture
1989 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 kiln
2003 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) was held.
2006 Presented research on the restoration of the old kiln at the Bizen Pottery Research Forum 2006.
2010 April: Launched the Kogama Restoration Project in collaboration with the Bizen City Board of Education, and began production of the earthen kiln and joint research. Started to build the second earthen kiln.
September: Kiln No. 2 was completed. The first firing of the kiln No. 2 was held as part of the Kogama Restoration Project.
October: The results of the Kogama Restoration Project were presented at the National Cultural Festival (organized by the Bizen City Board of Education).
2015 Visited the U.S. for three months at the request of Texas Christian University.
Restored, fired, and presented the results of a Bizen ware medieval kiln (earthen kiln) in DeQueen, Arkansas.
2016 March: Reported on the Bizen ware medieval kiln restoration project in the U.S. and held a symposium at the Okayama Prefectural Museum of Art, 2nd floor hall.
November: Chugoku Bureau of Economy, Trade and Industry Director-General’s Commendation for Meritorious Service
