living national treasure

Nakashima Hiroshi 中島宏

1941-2018maleliving national treasureFrom Takeo City, Saga Prefecture. Trained at his father Shigeto’s Nakajima Pottery. Studied under Nishidai Yu of the Tokyo University of Arts. Set up a half-overground cave kiln in the site of the ancient Yumino Kiln in 1969. Won the Education Minister’s Prize at the Kyushu Yamaguchi Exhibition. Won the Japan Traditional Crafts Exhibition Honorable Mention and had his works procured by the Ministry of Cultural Affairs. Won the Saga Newspaper Culture Honorable Mention. Won the Japan Ceramics Association Prize. Has held solo exhibitions at Aoyama Green G, Osaka Sentral G, Nihonbashi Takashimaya and elsewhere. Makes powdered celadon (more…)

Ishiguro Munemaro 石黒宗磨

1893-1968maleliving national treasureIshiguro Munemaro roamed areas such as Tokyo, Saitama, Toyama and Kanazawa as he created his pottery works, before building a kiln at Ohara, Kyoto and settling down in 1935. He then became close to individuals such as Koyama Fujio, Katō Hajime, Kaneshige Toyo, Arakawa Toyozō and Katō Tōkuro and founded the Tōri Society and the Kashiwa Society among others.His style was of free-spirited expression, and he showed outstanding talent in fields such as black glaze, iron glaze, iron painting, temmoku glaze, Karatsu ware, overglaze enamel and ash glaze.In particular, he was acknowledged as a holder of cultural property (more…)

Hara Kiyoshi 原清

1936–malekyo potteryliving national treasureAn aspiring potter, Hara Kiyoshi became an apprentice of Ishiguro Munemaro in 1954, later studying under Munemaro’s top apprentice Shimizu Uichi.He opened his own kiln in Setagaya, Tokyo in 1965, after previously participating in the Japan Traditional Kogei Exhibition for the first time in 1958 and becoing a regular member of the Japan Kogei Association in 1961.After opening his own kiln, he was conferred the Chairman’s Award at the Japan Traditional Kogei Exhibition in 1969, the Japan Ceramic Society Award in 1976, and the Tokyo Governor’s Award at the Japan Traditional Kogei Exhibition in 1997. He was (more…)

Hamada Shoji 濱田庄司

1894-1978malemashiko potteryliving national treasureHamada Shoji was a renowned craftsman and representative figure in modern Japanese pottery. Born in Tokyo in 1894, he resolved to become a potter while still a student at Furitsuicchu (the Tokyo First Prefectural Jr. High School, Hibiya high school at present). After studying ceramics at the Tokyo Higher Technical School (present-day Tokyo Institute of Technology), Hamada joined the Kyoto Municipal Ceramic Laboratory, where he would meet his lifelong friend, Kawai Kanjiro. As Hamada later summarized the narrative arc of his career, “I found the path in Kyoto, began my journey in England, studied in Okinawa, and (more…)

Fujiwara Yu 藤原雄

1932-2001malebizen potteryliving national treasureBorn as the eldest son of Living National Treasure for bizen ware Fujiwara Kei, after graduating from university, Fujiwara worked for a time as a magazine editor, but was convinced by his father and Oyama Fujio to return home where he began his tutelage in ceramics under his father.After this, Fujiwara went on to produce work after work, presenting them in exhibitions by Japan kogei association, the Gendai Nihon Togei, and the Issuikai, eventually becoming a member of the latter in 1960, and becoming a regular member of Japan kogei association the following year.Fujiwara won the grand (more…)

Fujiwara Kei 藤原啓

1899-1983malebizen potteryliving national treasureStarting out with a passion for literatary studies, Fujiwara began submitting haiku and poems throughout his elementary and junior high school years to various publications and winning awards for some of his submissions. Leaving for Tokyo at the age of 19, he began working as an editor for Hakubunkan while also attending university and was producing poems under the pen name Fujiwara Keiji. However, due to poor health, he abandoned his aspirations of becoming a writer of literature and returned to his hometown in 1973.After returning home, Fujiwara began to practice pottery at the suggestion of Manyoshu (more…)

Fujimoto Yoshimichi 藤本能道

1919-1992maleliving national treasureAfter graduating from art school ad being admitted to the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science, and Technology’s industrial arts engineering training center, Fujimoto entered into an apprenticeship under Kato Hajime, and began producing works alongside Tomimoto Kenkichi as his pottery assistant in 1938.Fujimoto won the Kofukaiten Kofukai Kogeisho Award in 1938, and after World War II exhibited works primarily in the various exhibitions held by the Japan Ceramics Society. Fujimoto won an award from the society as well as the silver prize from the International Academy of Ceramics in Geneva in 1956. Furthermore, though Fujimoto for a (more…)

Kato Takuo 加藤卓男

1917-2005maleliving national treasureHis father was Kato Kobei the 5th, who presided over the Maruko Pottery Company. Purchased by the government for the Nitten Special Prize. Awarded the Modern Craft Prize at the Japan Modern Crafts Exhibition. Awarded the Asahi Ceramic Art Exhibition Ceramics Prize. Awarded the Tokai TV Culture Award for his research on ancient Persian ceramics, and the Chunichi Culture Award for his teaching and training of Mino ceramics. Councilor and judge at the Japan Modern Industrial Exhibition, the Chunichi International Exhibition, and the Nitten exhibition. President of the Mino Ceramic Society. Councilor of the Japan Federation of Industry (more…)

Kato Kozo 加藤孝造

1935-malemino potteryliving national treasureBorn in Mizunami, Gifu Prefecture. Studied under Kato Koubei and Arakawa Toyozo. In 1954, he was accepted for a Western-style painting at the Nitten Exhibition. Since then, he has received the Asahi Prize at the Japan Traditional Crafts Exhibition, the Asahi Ceramic Art Exhibition, the highest award at the First Tokai Traditional Crafts Exhibition, the Kato Kobei Prize, and the Japan Ceramic Society Prize. Councilor and judge at the Asahi Ceramic Art Exhibition and the Chunichi International Exhibition. He is a judge for the Tokai Traditional Arts and Crafts Exhibition. He is a regular member of the (more…)

Tokuda Yasokichi 3rd 三代 徳田八十吉

1933-2009malekutani porcelainliving national treasureFrom Ishikawa Prefecture. Real name is Masahiko. Graduated from the Kanazawa College of Art. Learned from his father Yasokichi. Issui-kai Exhibition prize winner and judge. His works have been procured by the Japan Fine Arts Exhibition and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Has received the NHK President’s Prize at the Japan Traditional Crafts Exhibition, as well as the Craft Association President’s Prize, and is a regular member. Became the third Yasokichi in 1988. Focuses on colored glaze, brilliant glaze, and blue glaze. (more…)

Kinjo Jiro 金城次郎

1912- 2004maletsuboya potteryliving national treasureBorn in Naha. Began working with ceramics at the age of 13, studying under Hamada Shoji. Later apprenticed at a kiln-equipped shop that produced ceramics typically representative of Okinawa. Went independent in 1972. Certified as a prefectural intangible cultural technology property holder for Okinawan ceramics. Recipient of the Okinawa Times Art Award, Japan Folk Art Museum Award, Kokugakai Exhibition Excellence Award, Modern Master Craftsman Exhibition Labor Minister’s Award, many others. Permanent installation at the Romanian National Folk Art Museum. Exhibited at the Japan Ceramics Masters Exhibition. The Okinawa Crafts Exhibition (sponsored by the National Museum of (more…)

Imaizumi Imaemon 13th 十三代 今泉今右衛門

1926-2001malearita porcelainnabeshima porcelainliving national treasureThe eldest son of Imaemon XII, Imaemon XIII studied at Arita Technical School and Tokyo Schhol of Fine Arts before returning to his hometown to study pottery under his father.In 1975, his father passed away and he became the 13th Imaemon. (During this time, he participated in exhibitions such as the Japan Traditional Kogei Exhibition and the Issui Society Exhibition, was conferred the Issui Society Chairman’s Award and the Japan Kogei Association Chairman’s Award, as well as was nominated for member and regular member of both exhibitions.)After his succession, Imaemon XIII arranged solo exhibitions in various (more…)

Inoue Manji 井上萬二

1929-2025malearita porcelainliving national treasureLearned pottery from Sakaida Kakiemon and Okugawa Tadaemon. Selected for and won awards at the Japan Traditional Art Crafts Exhibition and Japan Ceramic Art Exhibition. Received the Saga Prefecture Art & Culture Merit Award, and the Saga Prefectural Government Merit Award. Japan Kogei Association member. Director of the Saga Ceramics Society and the West Japan Kogei Association. His work with porcelain was designated an Important Intangible Cultural Property in ‘95. (more…)

Ito Sekisui 5th 五代 伊藤赤水

1941-malemumyoi potteryliving national treasureBorn in Sado County, Niigata Prefecture. He was born as the eldest son of the fourth generation of Sekisui, whose real name is Yoichi. After graduating from Kyoto Institute of Technology in 1966, he studied Mumyoi ware under his grandfather, the third generation, and was selected for the Japan Traditional Crafts Exhibition in 1972. In 1976, he succeeded to the name of Sekisui V. He continued to research and refine his techniques. In 1985, he was awarded the Prince Chichibu Cup for the best work at the Japan Ceramic Art Exhibition. In 1993, to celebrate the wedding (more…)

Isezaki Jun 伊勢崎淳

1936-malebizen potteryliving national treasureStudied under his father Yozan. First selected for the Japan Traditional Art Crafts Exhibition in 1961. Featured in the Bizen Thousand Year Exhibition held by the Mainichi Newspaper, the Bizen/Hagi exhibitions held by the Gotoh Museum, theContemporary Japan Ceramic Art Exhibition held by the National Taiwan Museum, and the first All-Japan Traditional Craft Selection Exhibition, among others. Worked as a professor at Okayama University. Has held personal exhibitions at locations including Ginza Matsuya and Shinjuku Isetan. Received the Kaneshige Toyo Award. Japan Kogei Association member. (more…)

Arakawa Toyozo 荒川豊蔵

1894-1985malemino potteryliving national treasureAround 1586, Shino ware suddenly appeared in records of tea ceremonies, being used as the bowl The Shino ware was being used as the tea bowl in tea ceremonies. During the Keicho period, problems with production efficiency and other issues caused a decline and eventually a complete halt in production.Arakawa Toyozo, after experiencing much difficulty, revived the tradition of Shino ware, which became a success. He was eventually named a Living National Treasure and is regarded as one of the finest potters in history.Born on March 21st, 1894. Educated by Miyanaga Tozan, went to Kamakura and aided (more…)