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Kiyomizu Rokubey 1st 初代 清水六兵衛

1738-1799malekyo potteryAs a child, he went to Kyoto to learn pottery making from a Kyoto potter, Ebihara Kiyobei, and opened his own kiln near Kenninji Temple on Gojozaka.He became a frequent guest at the Myohoin Palace, where he produced Oniwa-ware, and also befriended leading literati and painters of the time, such as Ueda Akinari, Tanomura Chikuden, Maruyama Okyo, and Matsumura Goshun, with whom he collaborated on some of his works. He often produced tea ceremony utensils, such as black raku bowls from the Myohoin Palace garden, as well as sencha ware, which was popular at the time. (more…)

Kawakita Handeishi 川喜田半泥子

1878-1963maleA wealthy cotton merchant from Ise born to the Kawakita Kyudaku household, he was separated from his parents and became the head of the family at around 1. He took the name of Kyudaku the 16th, and received training in Zen and so on from his grandmother (what is currently called “emperor studies”). After graduating from Waseda University, he took on his father’s occupation, also working as a Hyakugo Bank board member in 1903 before becoming Hyakugo’s president in 1919, and its chairman in 1945. He also served as a member of the Mie prefectural assembly.During this time he also (more…)

Kawai Kanjiro 河井寛次郎

1890-1966maleAfter graduating from Tokyo Higher Polytechnical School, Kawai worked and studied at the Kyoto Research Institute for Ceramics. In 1920, he built his own independent kiln in Gojozaka (inherited from Kiyomizu Rokubey V), and married Tsune Kawai (née Mikami Yasu) the same year.His first ceramics exhibition was held the following year at Tokyo’s Takashimaya Department Store. From the beginning, he studied ancient Chinese and Korean ceramics, and was highly praised for developing pieces with ever more unique molds, but he held doubts about his style, and temporarily ceased to make pottery. It was around this time he was introduced to (more…)

Kato Usuke 加藤宇助

1915-1981maleseto potteryKato Usuke, a potter of Seto and Akazu ware, was born in 1915 as the son of Usaburo the 20th. With his ancestor being the second son of the father of Seto ware, Kato Kagemasa Second Generation Toshiro Motomichi, Fuji Saemon as the first generation, he takes his name Usuke from the 17th Generation Keitoku Jinzo. His teaware products include koseto, setoguro, shino, and oribe among others, and there are many excellent products that could easily fit in with ancient works. Usuke’s works are engraved with his signature, “う(U)”. He has held solo exhibitions in various parts of Japan, (more…)

Kato Tokuro 加藤唐九郎

1896-1985malemino potteryKato Tokuro was born the eldest son of Seto potter Kano Sojiro, and as a child displayed a talent for painting in the Nanga style, for composing Chinese poetry, as well as for ceramics, which he practiced under his father. In 1914, he was granted partial rights to his father’s round kiln, marking the start of his own kiln construction and ceramics.In 1918, he married Kato Kinu and took the family name Kato.He devoted himself to surveying the old Seto kilns and researching traditional Seto techniques, allowing him to reproduce Shino and Oribe ware. In 1929, he founded the (more…)

Shibata Nyoami 柴田如阿弥

Meiji Period – Taisho Periodmalekyo potteryHe did dye-work in Gojozaka, Kyoto from the Meiji Period to the Taisho Period, making teacups based on gosu akae. However, details of his works are not well known. He has direct apprentices, such as Sho Nyoami. (more…)

Shirai Hanshichi 9th 九代 白井半七

1928-1987kyo potteryThe previous Hanshichi VIII moved the kiln from Imado (Taito-ku, Tokyo) to Takarazuka, Hyogo Prefecture in 1939. Hanshichi IX built a kiln in Ohara, Hyogo Prefecture, and produced tea ceremony pottery, mainly from the works of Kenzan style. He moved his kiln from Takarazaka to Sanda in 1980. Both Hanshichi VIII and Hanshichi IX held a strong relationship with the traditional restaurant Hon-kitcho mainly through their tea wares. He leaves behind many works of kaiseki dishes wares and teacups under the kaiseki restaurant Kitcho. (more…)

Shirai Hanshichi 8th 八代 白井半七

1898-1949kyo potteryDue to the Great Kanto Earthquake of 1923, he moved to Itami City, Hyogo Prefecture.Becoming Hanshichi VIII, he created his family’s clay furnaces, as well as his own works such as Kenzan and Ninsei color paintings, Oribe ware, and tea wares. He laid the foundations for the family’s style from there on out.In 1939, he moved his kiln to Takarazuka City on the recommendation of Kobayashi Ichizo and others. (more…)

Ryubun Douanpei 2nd 二代 龍文堂安平

1779-1841maleAs also known as Shikata Ryubun. Born to first-generation caster Ryubun (or adopted), he inherited the family business in 1805 and was given the name Ryubun II.His strong point was his style of Chinese goods, and he left behind excellent works such as copper stationary, incense burners, bingake wares, etc. His work was favored by painters and calligraphers, and through that connection he became close friends with Raisan Yo and Aoki Mokubei. In his later years, he produced not only cast works, putting energy into creating fired pottery as well, of which he preferred making teacups and kyusu teapots. (more…)

Shimada Fumio 島田文雄

1948-maleWhile enrolled in graduate school in 1974, he exhibited his work for the first time at the Japan Traditional Crafts Exhibition and won an award for the first time. The following year, he received the Japan Industrial Craft Association Chairman’s Award at the Japan Traditional Crafts New Works Exhibition, and in 1977 he was appointed a regular member of the Japan Traditional Crafts Association. He received high praise from early on.In addition, he received the Japan Industrial Craft Association Chairman’s Award at the Japan Traditional Crafts Musashino Exhibition in 1981, the Japan Airlines Association’s Sora no Nichi Art Award in (more…)

Shimizu Kosho 清水公照

1911-1999maleJoining Hogo-in at Todaiji Temple in 1927, he trained under Shimizu Kimitoshi (later his father-in-law) to become a formal Buddhist monk. After four years of zen training at Tairyuji Temple from 1933, he became the chief priest of Tadaiji Temple’s Tatchu Ryuzoin and Dojoin in 1937.He was dispatched to China during the war, but after returning to Japan in 1946 he became the chief priest of Todaiji Temple’s Hogo-in. In 1947, he founded Seisei Junior High School (renamed Todaiji Gakuen) in 1947, contributing to education through becoming director of Todaiji Kindergarten and Girls’ Academy in 1963. After becoming headmaster of (more…)

Kobayashi Zentei (Undonin) 小林全鼎 (雲道人)

1880-1972maleAfter training at Tenryuji Temple at a young age, he had been active as an artist in a wide range of fields such as calligraphy, seal engraving, and pottery, and had deep friendships with leaders in the literary, painting, and Buddhist worlds . In particular, he got the backing of the chief priest of Kinkakuji Temple and Murakami Jikai to do a wide range of activities. In addition, he also served as a calligraphy instructor at Nihon University College of Art, and held solo exhibitions in various places. During the war, he lived in Kosaba, Yamaguchi Prefecture for evacuation and (more…)

Kobashigawa Eisho 小橋川永昌

1877-1952maletsuboya potteryAlso known as Kobashigawa Nio. A potter from the Taisho-Showa era. For generations, the family was engaged in pottery at Tsuboya, a town of government kilns during the Ryukyu Kingdom era. He was the third generation branch of the Kobashigawa family line. He was excellent at glaze blending. Nio, Kinjo Jiro and Aragaki Eizaburo are affectionately known as the Tsuboya Three Men, as they brought public recognition to Okinawa’s representative pottery, Tsuboya pottery. (more…)

Kondo Takahiro 近藤高弘

1958-maleAs his grandfather he has Kondo Yuzo, and Kondo Hiroshi as his father.After graduating from Law University, he studied pottery at Kyoto Prefectural Ceramists’ Training Institute and Kyoto Municipal Institute of Industrial Research.He held a solo exhibition at the Museum of Art of Sao Paulo in 1990 and since then has been successful both within Japan and overseas at such places as the Azabu Museum of Arts and Crafts in 92, Osaka Contemporary Art Center in 93, National Museum of Scotland in 95, Gallery 213 (Paris) in 99, Barry Friedman Gallery (New York) in 2002, Yufuku (Tokyo, Japan), Paramita Museum (more…)

Kondo Yutaka 近藤豊

1932-1983maleBorn as the eldest son of Kondo Yuzo, a living national treasure, he studied pottery under his father, Tomimoto Kenkichi, and Fujimoto Yoshimichi , who were all well versed in nature and pottery.In addition to piling up awards and prizes mainly at the Shinshokai, Kyoto Exhibition, Japanese Traditional Crafts Exhibition, and Contemporary Japanese Ceramics Exhibition, he has also been successful at overseas exhibitions such as being a prizewinner at the American Devo Ceramics Exhibition. In 1962, he went to America after being invited to Indiana State University in the United States, and in 1969, participated in Kyoto University of Art’s (more…)

Komori Shoan 小森松庵

1901-1989maleFrom a young age, he devoted himself to the tea ceremony and gradually started making pottery. His productions focused on Shino, kuro-raku, Shigaraki, Bizen, etc., and he also excelled at making chashaku (bamboo tea spoons). He made presentations mainly in solo exhibitions. (more…)

Kusebe Sennosuke 楠部千之助

1859-1940malekyo-satsuma-awata potteryBorn into the Taniguchi family as second son, he was adopted in 1881 by Kusube Kameyoshi of Sanjo Shirakawabashi, who manufactured ritual items for use at Ise Jingu for generations, and took on Kusube’s surname. At first, he aspired to become a painter, studying under Kono Bairei (also known as Ikuyama). For the sake of his family name, he abandoned his career as a painter, setting up Kusube Pottery Trading Factory with an eye to promoting the local industry of Awata-ware. The number of craftsmen working under him increased and it became successful for a time, but the business (more…)

Kuze Kyuho 2nd 二代 久世久宝

1897-1974femalekyo potteryEldest daughter of the first Kyuho, she succeeded her father and took on his name as Kyuho (2nd generation). Worked in Ninsei-utsushi ceramics and gilded tea pottery. (more…)

Kuze Kyuho 3rd 三代 久世久宝

Showa period –femaleFemale writer and artist. Did extensive research into the family’s history making Ninsei-utsushi ceramics leading up to Kyuho(2nd generation) and took over as third-generation owner in 1974. (more…)

Kutani Shoza 九谷庄三

1816-1883malekutani porcelainBorn the son of a farmer in Terai, Nomi-gun, Kaga domain, he was involved in the ceramics industry as a painter from the age of 11 onward, going independent after opening his own workshop in Terai at the age of 26. Through shifting the painting materials he used from Japanese-made pigments to Western-made pigments, which were just beginning to be imported into Japan at the time, he achieved at neutral-color glaze that had been difficult to achieve up until that point but which soon became the basis of modern Kutani-ware. In the Meiji period, Shoza’s work was exported overseas (more…)