over 100000 JPY

Hirakawa Shoichi 平川正一

1930-?malebizen potteryBorn in Okayama. Moved to Inbe in 1950 and formed a close association with Suzuki Osai under whom he trained as an assistant for more than 20 years while working on the construction of a furnace for a brick company. Went independent and built a kiln in Kumayama-cho, Akaiwa-gun in 1975. Specialized in crafts such as Japanese handle-less teapots and incense burners. (more…)

Hibata Koken 日幡光顕

1920-2002malebizen potteryMade handmade handle-less Japanese teapots in 1960. Retired as director from the Bizen Community Center in 1970 and devoted himself full-time to ceramics. Recognised as a Person of Cultural Merit in Okayama prefecture. Secretary and jury member for Bizen Ceramics Association, Japan Kogei Association East Chugoku Branch. Participant and award winner at Japan Traditional Crafts Exhibition, Japan Ceramics Exhibition, others. Held solo exhibitions at Osaka Hankyu, Gifu Kintetsu, Seibu Ikebukuro, Nipponbashi, Nagoya Mitsukoshi, others. Member of the Japan Kogei Association. (more…)

Shigeda Shigeyoshi 久田重義

1946-2001maleBorn in Tokoname. Graduated from the Faculty of Engineering at Doshisha University. Studied under Tsuji Shinroku. Established Wadachi Kiln in 1972. Participant and award-winner at Japanese Traditional Crafts Exhibition, Asahi Ceramics Exhibition, Chunichi International Exhibition, Italian Faenza International Exhibition, Choza Award Ceramics Exhibition, others. Primarily focused on oil droplet ceramics, konoha tenmoku and celadon. Member of the Japan Kogei Association. Held solo exhibitions at Nagoya Sun G, others. (more…)

Higashi kuniaki 東邦昭

1941-1992malekutani porcelainSecond son of Asahiyama Kutani, former head of the Kutani kiln. Graduated from Ishikawa Prefecture Crafts High School and later from the Kyoto Institute of Technology. Studied under Onishi Masataro. Recipient of Prefectural Traditional Crafts Exhibition Excellence Award, other honors. Member of Issuikai and the Japan Kogei Association. Primarily focused on quail’s crest kneading, other techniques. (more…)

Banura Shiro 番浦史郎

1941-2001maleMade ceramics using Rinpa-style decoration techniques based on Otowa Yamabo in Iga-Ueno. Graduated from Kyoto Arts and Crafts University. Studied under Kawamura Sotaro. Held solo exhibitions at Nihonbashi Mitsukoshi, Takashimaya, Ikebukuro Tobu, Umeda Modern Art Exhibition. Worked on ceramic walls at Nikkei Inc., others. (more…)

Yoshita Minori 吉田美統

1938-malekutani porcelainliving national treasureBorn to a family with generations of gold leaf Kutani ware artists, he worked as a pottery artist apprentice under his grandfather after the early death of his father, and succeeded the three generation Kinzangama workshop in 1951.He was first selected to the Ishikawa Prefecture Art Exhibition in 1964, and flourished in many shows thereafter, appearing at the Issuikai Exhibition in 1978, being displayed at the Japan Industrial Arts Exhibition in 1974, winning the Issuikai award in 1978, receiving the 1982 member award, honorable mention at the 1984 Japan Industrial Arts Exhibition, being awarded the Takamatsunomiya memorial (more…)

Yamamoto Toshu 山本陶秀

1906-1994malebizen potteryliving national treasureAfter graduating from elementary school, he began pottery in 1921 as a Bizen-ware pottery apprentice, then in 1933 he started his own independent kiln. In 1938 he became a student of Kusube Yaichi and trained in modeling and handling of the potter’s wheel.In 1939 he won the Excellence Award at the Art Crafts Exhibition of Chugoku, Shikoku and Kyushu Regions, and in 1948 he was certified as a preserver of his characteristic technique which was based on the potter’s wheel technique he learned from Yaichi, and had an added feeling of speed and sharpness. In 1954 he (more…)

Yamada Jozan 3rd 三代 山田常山

1924-2005maletokoname potteryliving national treasureBorn the eldest son of the second generation Yamada Jozan, he studied under his father and grandfather, who was the first generation Jozan, while attending school, in order to inherit the family business.In 1947, after the death of the first generation, his father succeeded the name as Jozan, and Minoru took on the name his father used to have, Sho-jozan (means little Jozan).In 1958, he was chosen for a prize for the first time in the Fifth Japan Traditional Kogei Exhibition, and he received the Grand Prix at the Brussels International Exposition in the same year. After (more…)

Yamada Jozan 2nd 二代 山田常山

1897-1961maletokoname potteryHis real name was Makoto.He learned the potter’s wheel from Jozan I and seal engraving from Yoshiwara Kasyu, his maternal grandfather.He learned drawing from Yoshida Kinji (pen name – Ichiha), the principal of the Tokoname pottery school, and took the pen name Futaha.He changed his name to Kojozan in the middle of the Taisho period, then he took on the name of Jozan II after the death of Jozan I, and he fully demonstrated his traditional techniques.Jozan II’s teapots also have engravings by celebrated calligraphy and artists.Certified as a National Designated Technical Preservationist in 1944. (more…)

Yamada Jozan 1st 初代 山田常山

1868-1942maletokoname potteryHis real name was Hamajiro.He studied the craft of pottery at Ina Sosuke’s ceramic factory.After that, he refined his technique at Koie Hojyu’s Mt. Kanashima (ceramic factory) and became independent after several years.Since then, he devoted himself to making teapots with a potter’s wheel.He took pride in his graceful Chinese-style teapots and he is known for leaving behind numerous masterpieces that are fitting for a master craftsman. (more…)

Tsukigata Nahiko 月形那比古

1923-2006maleshino potteryThe founder of OnishinoBorn to a father who was a stone sculptor, and a mother who was a flower arranger, Nahiko’s artistic sensibilities were nurtured from a young age. After graduating university, he encountered the pottery of Toyozo Arakawa, and was profoundly moved. This inspired him to recreate ancient Momoyama period kilns in Ooya, Gifu Prefecture (The Kiln of Heaven, The Kiln of Earth) and begin making ceramics. He also built kilns at Gotomaki Pass (The Kiln of Heart, The Kiln of Man), with 4 in existence. From the beginning he presented mainly solo exhibitions, with over 200 domestic (more…)

Tsukamoto Kaiji 塚本快示

1912-1990maleliving national treasureHe was born the son of the seventh generation Tsukamoto Gennemon, a line of pottery manufacturers in Toki who had inherited the making of Chinese Dingyao style white porcelain from generation to generation for over 200 years. He held a strong interest in manufacturing pottery from a very young age, and assisted his father in making pottery after graduating from higher elementary school.After the war, he developed his craft activities through Hineno Sakuzo. Additionally, at around 1948, he gained the favor of Koyama Fujio, known for his research on Chinese ceramics, and pursued further research on Chinese Song (more…)

Tomimoto Kenkichi 富本憲吉

1886-1963maleliving national treasureAfter graduating from Tokyo School of Fine Arts’ Design Department, he gained the favor of Howard Leach, thus starting his aspirations to become a ceramic artist. The following year, he opened his own kiln in his hometown of Ando City.He began with a focus on hand-molden earthenware replicas and other earthenware, then proceeded to research Japanese antique kilns such as those of Shigaraki and Seto. Further, he traveled to Korea and included Joseon dynasty pottery molding in his works. In 1927, he moved his kiln to Soshigaya, Tokyo, and had his works featured the following year in 1928 (more…)

Tokuda Yasokichi 1st 初代 徳田八十吉

1873-1956malekutani porcelainAt Matsumoto Sakame’s workshop, he studied such conventional techniques as those for making antiquated Kutani replications, Yoshida-ya replications, as well as the aka-e techniques. Following this, he created his characteristic Shinko glaze.He also taught such pupils as the second and third generation Yasokichis, along with Asakura Isokichi. As of today, he is renowned as a leader in dyed pottery figure glaze. In 1953, he became the first figure in Kutani ware to become designated as an Important Intangible Cultural Property (a Living National Treasure).His works became highly valued for being ceramics made with refined coloring techniques and precision, and (more…)

Tamura Koichi 田村耕一

1916-1987malemashiko potteryliving national treasureAfter graduating from Tokyo University of the Arts, he served as a teacher in Osaka for a while. He first became interested in ceramics around this time, but resigned due to his conscription.After WWII, he studied ceramics techniques in Kyoto under Tomimoto Kenkichi, then returned to his hometown, Tochinoki. In 1948 he took part in establishing Akami ware in Sano, Tochigi prefecture. The same year, he exhibited at the second Tochigi Art Festival, where he was noticed by Hamada Shoji. In 1950 he became a technical official for the Tochigi Prefectural Ceramics Coaching Center. In 1953 he (more…)

Takahashi Dohachi 8th 八代 高橋道八

1938-2011malekyo potteryBorn in Kyoto. Graduated from Hiyoshi-oka High School. Completed the Kyoto Pottery Training School in 1959 and the Kyoto Industrial Research Institute in 1960. Studied under Dohachi VII and mastered a wide range of techniques including Kyoyaki color painting. In 1983, he assumed the name of the eighth generation. (more…)

Takahashi Dohachi 1st 初代 高橋道八

1742-1804malekyo potteryBorn the second son of an Ise retainer, he visited Kyoto around the age of 25, and was inspired by seeing Awataguchi pottery.He took up residence and began making making pottery there. At first he studied Nanga techniques and fired decorated ceramics. He specialized in ornaments of people and wildlife, but was also skilled at incense holders and tea bowls called shuki. He also left behind collaborations with master artists such as Ike no Taiga, Ueda Akinari and others. (more…)

Suzuki Osamu 鈴木蔵

1934-maleshino potteryliving national treasureFollowing his graduation from High School, Suzuki Osamu began employment at Maruko Toen where he researched such topics as glaze application. At this time he also assisted his father, who was a ceramics engineer, in producing works.Thereafter, he continued to produce works with his attention on the Japan Ceramic Art Exhibition and the Japan Folk Crafts Exhibition. In 1959, he was first selected in the form of an honorable mention from the Japan Ceramic Art Exhibition. Then, in 1961, they awarded him the Award of Excellence of the First Degree. He was given his first award from (more…)

Suda Shoho 須田祥豊

1885-1974Born in the Meiji period, he started making pottery in Kyoto. In Year 14 of the Taisho period, he was given the name of Shoho by the Urasenke Tantansai family. He was also given the title of Josetsuan by the chief abbot of Daitokuji Temple. He is known for his expertise with national pottery and Korean replica pottery, and his clear-cut style has been much acclaimed. He has created many masterpieces, and is known as one of the master craftsmen of the modern era. His clear-cut style has been much acclaimed, and because he had a thorough knowledge of tea (more…)

Shimizu Uichi 清水卯一

1926-2004malekyo potteryliving national treasureBorn into a ceramics wholesalers in Higashiyama, Kyoto, he aspired to be a pottery artist at around 15 years of age and studied under Ishiguro Munemaro.In 1951, he was chosen for a prize for the first time in the Seventh Japan Fine Arts Exhibition, and he displayed his works in the Japan Traditional Kogei Exhibition, which was newly started in 1955 and was presided over by the Japan Kogei Association. He received the Japan Kogei Association President Award of this exhibition in 1960.During this time, he also took part in the formation of societies such as the (more…)