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Takahashi Dohachi 3rd 三代 高橋道八

1811-1879malekyo potteryInherited his father’s style, and was especially skilled at brush marks and making Mishima ware.In his last years he was encouraged by Hizen Arita to start teaching pottery. His students include Miura Chikusen I. (more…)

Sasaki Niroku 佐々木二六

1857-1935maleniroku potteryBorn in Muramatsu Village, Uma County (now Shikokuchuo City). His real name is Rokutaro. Born into a family involved in tile manufacturing for generations.He took over the family’s tile manufacturing business.In 1883, while in Tokushima, he was impressed by the live dolls of Matsumoto Kisaburo, one of Japan’s foremost Kumamoto doll makers, and became passionate about doll making.　He visited potteries in various parts of Japan for further research, and in 1887, he came up with the idea of carving the opposite side of Soma ware of Fukushima Prefecture, focusing on the raised carvings. He studied carving landscapes, flowers and (more…)

Saka Koraizaemon 12th 十二代 坂高麗左衛門

1949-2004malehagi potteryReal name is Saka Tatsuo. At university and graduate school, he mainly did research on Japanese painting techniques for solo exhibitions, but after graduating from graduate school, he married the daughter of the 11th generation Saka Koraizaemon of the Hagi-yaki Kiln, Saka Motoko and entered the Saka family as a son-in-law. He started pottery from 1984 after being at the Kyoto Industrial Research Institute for Ceramics and presented works at the Traditional Crafts New Work Exhibition, and the Japan Traditional Crafts Exhibition etc. In 1988, he received the NHK Yokohama Broadcasting Award in a New Works Exhibition, and in (more…)

Sakai Hiroshi 酒井博司

1960-maleshino potteryHe graduated from Nagoya Institute of Technology in 1983, and following that graduated from Tajimishi Tojikiisho Research Institute in 1985 (studying under Kato Kozo).He has been widely active as he exhibited at Asahi Ceramics Exhibition starting in 92 and then in 94, 95, 9, and 2000, participated in Biennale Ceramics in 95, 97, 99, exhibited at Mashiko Ceramics Exhibition in 98, 2000, 2002, participated in the International Ceramics Exhibition Mino(receiving the Silver Award in 2002), exhibited for the first time in the Japan Traditional Crafts Exhibition in 2001, participated in the 53rd Faenza International Ceramics Exhibition(Italy) in 2003, and (more…)

Sakakura Shinbe 12th 十二代 坂倉新兵衛

1884-1960malehagi potteryBorn as the eldest son of the 11th generation Sakakura Shinbe, he inherited the family business.He was someone who deepened his knowledge by learning tea ceremony from Sugi Minji(Yoshida Shoin’s older brother) and Sokuchusai masters, and revived the Hagi-ware industry, which had fallen into decline since the abolition of feudal domain kilns. He was called the most recent ‘ancestor of rejuvenation’ for Hagi-ware together with the 10th generation Miwa Kyusetsu, and it was certified as a designated cultural property of Yamaguchi Prefecture in 1955.Traditional Hagi tea bowls, and Ido Chawan, etc. (more…)

Sakuma Hokyu 佐久間芳丘

1911-?malebanko potteryBorn into the former Matsuko kiln for Banko-ware, he built up discipline under his father Horin and his grandfather the 2nd generation Yoshiharu, and also researched various kilns through self-study. He became independent after building a kiln in 1954.In 1956, he held his first solo exhibition at Osaka Hankyu Department Store, and since then he has continued to mainly present his works focused on solo exhibitions.In addition to aka-e works inherited through Banko-ware, he specializes in Karatsu, Mishima, and Iga etc., and there remains his tea bowl masterpieces that include pots, vases, plates, water jugs, and cups.In addition, he (more…)

Saka Shinbe 8th 八代 坂新兵衛

1796-1877malehagi potteryHe was Saka Koraizaemon the eighth generation but called himself Shinbe.With Toyotomi Hideyoshi’s dispatch to Korea, Mori Terumoto, who ruled the entire Chugoku region at that time, had brought back a potter from Korea and named him Sakata at first, but later changed his name to Saka. After Terumoto was forced to move to Hagi by the Shogunate, the potter received the name Koraizaemon from the 2nd Hagi feudal lord, Mori Tsunahiro, and the 8th generation of Saka Koraizaemon continued to use it to the present.The 8th Koraizaemon was able to protect his family business well by working with (more…)

Sakata Deika 13th 十三代 坂田泥華

1915-2010malehagi potteryReal name is Sakata Ippei. His father was 12th generation Sakata Deika, so after graduating from the local Hagi Commercial High School, he got involved in the family business, but this was at the same time as the war and he was drafted by the military.It was after the war that he really learned how to make pottery from his father, and with his father’s retirement in 1950, he succeeded to the name of 13th generation Sakata Deika.He was a prizewinner for the first time at the Contemporary Ceramics Exhibition in 1956 (he continued to be a consecutive prizewinner (more…)

Sakaida Kakiemon 12th 十二代 酒井田柿右衛門

1878-1963malearita porcelainBorn as the eldest son of the 11th generation Kakiemon, he succeeded to the name of 12th Kakiemon with the death of his father in 1917.In 1919, Obata Hideyoshi and Kakiemon established a limited partnership and started to use ‘Kakufuku’ on their products, but upon leaving the company in 2016, the ‘Kakufuku’ seal became the company’s property and so the Sakaida family began to use ‘Work of Kakiemon’ on their products. During that time, he showed success through things like winning the silver medal at the Kyushu-Okinawa Prefectural Association Prize Show in 1919, and being designated as an arts (more…)

Saka Koraizaemon 10th 十代 坂高麗左衛門

1890-1958malehagi potteryThe second son of the 9th generation Saka Koraizaemon. With Toyotomi Hideyoshi’s dispatch to Korea, Mori Terumoto, who ruled the entire Chugoku region at that time, had brought back a potter from Korea and named him Sakata at first, but later changed his name to Saka. After Terumoto was forced to move to Hagi by the Shogunate, the potter received the name Koraizaemon from the 2nd Hagi feudal lord, Mori Tsunahiro, and the 10th generation of Saka Koraizaemon continued to use it to the present.The tenth generation Koraizaemon, inherited the family business due to his brother’s premature death, and (more…)

Ohi Soshun (Ohi Chozaemon 8th) 大樋宗春 (八代 大樋長左衛門)

1851-1927maleOverlapping with the new Meiji period, in the time when not only Ohi ware but tea pottery culture was in decline throughout the country, both the eldest and second eldest sons of the seventh generation Michitada (Chozaemon) did not pursue the family business and left the house, which caused Michitada’s cousin, Nara Rikichi, to enter the Ohi family and succeed the family name and estate.After succeeding the name, he produced works thoroughly adhering to traditional pottery techniques while also adding his own originality. He overcame the tumultuous Meiji period and carried on to the prosperity of Ohi ware.Also, he received (more…)

Ohi Chozaemon 1st 初代 大樋長左衛門

1631-1712maleohi potterySaid to have originally descended from the Haji family, who lived in Haji, Kawachi Province, he left for Kyoto at around 1656 and learned the method of producing Raku ware from Ichinyu of the Raku family. It is said that he took up residence near Nijo Kawaramachi, and for that reason it is conjectured that he had some sort of connection to the Oshikoji ware that the nearby Raku branch kiln fired at the time.In 1666, he served the Maeda family of the Kaga Domain, on the recommendation of Senso Soshitsu, who worked as a tea master for the (more…)

Ogawa Choraku 1st 初代 小川長楽

1874-1939maleraku potteryPotter of Kiyomizu ware. Studied under Keinyu and Konyu of the Raku family.From South Kuwa in Tanba Province (modern-day Kameoka in Kyoto Prefecture).In 1885, he moved to Kyoto and received pottery instruction from Raku Konyu. In 1903, he started a branch family at Konyu’s behest and began making pottery in earnest at a kiln in Gojo-zaka. At this time he was granted the name “Choraku” by Master Mokurai, the head priest of Kennin Temple, as well as the name “Choyuken” by Ennosai of the 13th generation of the Urasenke.In 1910, he moved his kiln to Tenno Town in Okazaki, (more…)

Kitaoji Rosanjin 北大路魯山人

1883-1959maleoribe potteryBorn in Kitaoji-cho, Kamigamo in Kyoto in 1883 (Meiji 16). Rosanjin’s birth was a result of his mother having an affair and his father, disgusted by this, committed seppuku suicide 4 months before Rosanjin was born. He had a poverty-stricken childhood and was put into foster care as soon as he was born, being passed on to various loveless adoptive households where he suffered abuse until he settled into the Fukuda household at age 6. One day, while running an errand for the place where he worked, he saw the sign for a restaurant in town called ‘Kamemasa’ on (more…)

Miwa Kyusetsu 11th 十一代 三輪休雪

1910-2012malehagi potteryliving national treasureBorn the third son of the Miwa kiln’s ninth generation Kyusetsu (Setsudo) of Hagi ware tradition, Miwa Kyusetsu studied under his father and older brother (the 10th generation Kyusetsu: Kyuwa) after graduating middle school, and also studied under Kawakita Handeishi.After a long period of training, he took on the pottery artist name “Kyu” and displayed his work in 1955. He was chosen for a prize for the first time in the Fourth Japan Traditional Kogei Exhibition in 1957, and he continued to be chosen for prizes from that point onward. In 1960, he was nominated for member (more…)

Miwa Kyusetsu 10th 十代 三輪休雪

1895 – 1981malehagi potteryliving national treasureHe was born as a child of the 9th Miwa Kyusetsu (Setudo) of the Miwa Kiln of the traditional Hagi Pottery. After he had been disciplined and influenced by his father and his grandfather (the 8th Kyusetsu: Setsuzan), he inherited his family business and in 1927 he inherited the professional name as the 10th Kyusetsu.He has worshiped and adored works of generations of Kyusetu, and devoted himself to the research of kaolin. Eventually he combined the Hagi clay and white glaze to complete the unique glaze called “Kyusetsujiro”. He has also added the character of (more…)

Matsui Kosei 松井康成

1927-2003malekasama potteryliving national treasureAfter graduating from university, he was inaugurated as 24th chief priest of the Tsukiso Jodo Temple in Kasama, Ibaraki prefecture in 1957.In 1959, he began restoring the old kiln at the temple’s gate, conducting unique research into ancient pottery from China, Korea and Japan. Further, from 1967 he received training from Tamura Koichi, dedicating himself to the study of Chinese kneading and inlaying techniques in particular. He first exhibited “Renjo te obachi” at the 9th Traditional Kogei Exhibition, receiving an honorable mention award. Thereafter, he amassed displays at every exhibition, and repeatedly amassed various awards such as (more…)

Kuroda Koryo (Otagaki Rengetsu 2nd) 黒田光良 (2代 太田垣連月)

Meiji periodmaleHis exact dates of birth and death, as well as his birthplace, remain unknown, but he learned pottery from Otagaki Rengetsu and ghostwrote for her during her lifetime. But after her death, from around 1878, he primarily produced shrine offering bowls and so on, naming himself Rengetsu II. From around this time he also used “Koryo-san” as his unique pottery seal. (more…)

Koyama Fujio 小山富士夫

1900-1975maleCommittee chairman of the Japan Society of Oriental Ceramic Studies and board chairman of the Japan Kogei Association. After leaving university mid term, he devoted himself to the study of ceramics at Seto and Kyoto, and established himself as a potter in 1925.However, in 1930 he became an Oriental Ceramics Research Institute employee, suspending his pottery work to devote himself to ceramics and porcelain research. In 1941 he served at the Tokyo Imperial Household Museum, joining in with the work of selecting Designated Cultural Properties. After retiring from the museum in 1961, he started to make pottery again from 1964, (more…)

Kondo Yuzo 近藤悠三

1902-1985maleliving national treasureKondo Yuzo was designated a living national treasure and left a remarkable legacy to Japanese ceramics. He was born in 1902 on the very site of this memorial museum, just outside the gate of Kiyomizu Temple. At the age of 12, he entered the training facility of the Ceramics Laboratory to learn to use the potter’s wheel. It was there that he met Kawai Kanjiro and Hamada Shoji.Starting when he was 19, he spent three years as an assistant to Tomimoto Kenkichi in Nara.He established his own studio in the same area when he was 22. There he (more…)