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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…)

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…)

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…)

Matsubayashi Shosai 松林昇斎

1865-1932maleasahi pottery12th generation Asahi ware pottery artist. Born the first son of Heijiro, the 11th generation Asahi ware potter, Shosai inherited the family business in 1894 and inherited the 12th generation title.The business struggled from the end of the Edo period throughout the Meiji period, but Shosai worked hard with his father to rebuild Asahi ware, creating a wide range of pieces centered around gohon-style tea bowls and green tea ware, building the foundation for modern Asahi ware. (more…)

Matsui Koyo 松井康陽

1962-maleThe son of the pottery artist Matsui Kosei (designated living national treasure), Matsui Koyo began training in pottery in his father’s Gessoji Temple Factor in 1985 after graduating college. He was selected to exhibit for the first time in 1991 in the 38th Japan Traditional Kogei Exhibition, and continues exhibiting in the Japan Traditional Kogei Exhibition and other craft exhibitions. He was appointed as an official member of the Japan Kogei Association in 1994 , and won the 45th Japan Traditional Kogei Exhibition Japan Kogei Association Honorable Mention in 1998 and the Second North Kanto Kogei Exhibition Mainichi Grand Prize (more…)

Masuda Donno 益田鈍翁

1848-1938maleMasuda Donno was the first son of Masuda Takanosuke, a director of the Sado magistrate’s office. In 1863, Donno traveled to Edo as the member of bakufu’s mission to Europe, and in 1872, he became the Fourth Class Ministry of Finance under Inoue Kaoru.In 1874, Donno established Senshu Company with Inoue Kaoru and was appointed the president.After Senshu Company was dissolved, he established the trading company Mitsui in 1876 and was appointed to become the manager (later the CEO), and began publication of Chugai Bukka Shimpo (currently known as The Nihon Keizai Newspaper, or Nikkei), making him one of the (more…)

Matsubayashi Hosai 15th 十五代 松林豊斎

1950-2015maleasahi potteryReal name is Matsubayashi Yoshikane. 15th generation Matsubayashi Hosai. After graduating Musashino Art University College of Art and Design, he learned potter’s wheel shaping techniques at the Kyoto Prefectural Ceramists’ Technical Institute and the basics of glazing at the Nagoya Municipal Industrial Research Institute. He then became an apprentice to his father, Matsubayashi Hosai (Yukoan) the 14th, and trained in the traditional technique of asahi ware.He is known for the skin-colored glaze that is characteristic of asahi ware on gohon-style tea bowls and green tea ware. (more…)

Mashimizu Zoroku 1st 初代 真清水蔵六

1822-1877maleShimizu Tasaburo the First learned pottery techniques from his uncle, Wake Kitei, then opened his own kiln in Gojozaka. The Mashimizu Zoroku artist name began when he changed his name to Zoroku, took the letter “Ma” from Myoho-in Temple, and named himself “Mashimizu Zoroku.”Using techniques such as overglaze decoration, kinrade, and celadon ware, Zoroku the First mainly created matcha and green tea wares. For his potter’s mark, he used a mark that was gifted to him from Gengensai Soshitsu. (more…)

Mashimizu Zoroku 2nd 二代 真清水蔵六

1861-1936maleBorn the first son of Mashimizu Zoroku the First, Zoroku the son inherited the family business and toured various cities around Japan, then to China and Korea to study celadon, Korean Yi Dynasty and Goryeo ware. After returning home, he opened his kiln in 1917 in Yamashina, Kyoto, and established the Mashimizu style.In the beginning of his career, Zoroku used his father’s hyakuju mark as a potter’s mark, but started using his own Zoroku mark around the age of 25. (more…)

Horie Biko 堀江美功

1939-maleBorn in Fukushima. Horie Biko started working in the family business of selling Mino ware from 1958, but started creating own pottery in 1963, borrowing a friend’s kiln at first. However, in 1965, Horie received instruction from Heian Kozan, a master craftsman in bonsai pots, and became independent in 1966, establishing Biko’s kiln. Biko has then continued to specialize in bonsai pots, and received the award of excellence in the National Pot Masterpiece Gallery in 1975.Biko is known as the leading figure of modern bonsai pot artists in the Tohoku region. (more…)

Hosokawa Morihiro 細川護煕

1938-maleHosokawa Morihiro was born the first son of Hosokawa Morisada, the 15th generation head of the main Hosokawa family, which had been the feudal lord of Kumamoto for many generations. Hosokawa worked at the Asahi Newspaper after graduating college, was elected into the House of Representatives for the first time in 1971, and took on roles such as the Parliamentary Vice Minister of Finance. From 1983, Hosokawa worked as the prefectural governor of Kumamoto for eight years, then relocated to Tokyo where he formed a new parliamentary party in 1992. He was appointed as the head of the party and (more…)

Hon’ami Koho 本阿弥光甫

1601-1682maleraku potteryshigaraki potteryBorn in Kyoto. Studied under Hon’ami Koetsu and Raku Ichinyu.Born as the son of Hon’ami Kosa (and grandson of Hon’ami Koetsu), Koho inherited the family business of appraising katana and swords along with the artistic talents of the Koetsu style, becoming a master of ceramics, painting, calligraphy, and tea.Koho especially advanced in his pottery skills by studying under Raku Ichinyu, ordering potter’s clay from Shigaraki and creating tea bowls called Kuchu Shigaraki. Koho also gifted a book titled “Pottery Techniques” that was passed down to him from his grandfather to Kenzan Shinsei. (more…)

Heian Kozan 1st 初代 平安香山

1905-1989maleReal name Koike Kazuo. Called himself Heian Kooh. Heian Kozan was born to a pottery household in Seto, learned pottery from his father, and began creating bonsai pots from 1924.Kozan was enlisted in the war in 1940 and entered military service in China, and stopped creating pottery after the war due to the unstable economy. In 1964, he rebuilt his studio with an electric kiln and began to create.Moreover, he changed his artist name from Kozan to Kouo in 1973, passing on the Kozan artist name to his son Katsunobu. However, Kozan the Second later closed the pottery business. While (more…)

Heian Tofukuji 平安東福寺

1890-1970maleReal name is Mizuno Kizaburo. Heian Tofukuji was adopted by Kyoto’s comb craftsman Mizuno Zenzaburo (artist name: Anrakuen), and began his career as an assistant to Zenzaburo. However, he took an interest in bonsai due to the influence of his adoptive father.However, as the material celluloid became widely circulated, the family was forced to shut down the comb-making business, and Tofukuji made the decision to switch to making bonsai pots.Tofukuji rented a kiln near Tofukuji Temple in Higashiyama, Kyoto, and started creating under the name “Anrakuen Kisan,” a combination of his father’s artist name and real name. However, at the (more…)

Fukushima Zenzo 福島善三

1959-malekoishiwara potteryliving national treasureBorn into the family who started the Koishiwara ware kiln, which has a history of over 300 years. After attending Asakura High School and then graduating from the Department of Economics in the Faculty of Economics at Fukuoka University in 1982, succeeded the family business and became the 16th generation.Selected for the first time for the 35th Japan Traditional Craft Exhibition. Sold works to the Imperial Household Agency in 2000. Won the Top Prize at the 1991 and 2001 Seibu Craft Exhibition and the 2003 Japan Traditional Craft Exhibition. Won the Fukuoka Prefectural Culture Award (Honorable Mention (more…)