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Kato Keizan 3rd 三代 加藤渓山

1948-malekyo potteryLearned techniques for making ceramics under his father Kato Keizan (2nd generation). Selected for the first time in 1970 for the Japan Contemporary Crafts Art Exhibition, at which he became a consecutive exhibitor as well as at All Kansai Art Exhibition and Kyoto Prefecture Arts and Crafts Exhibition. Also received the Yomiuri Television Broadcasting Award in 1970. Was subsequently selected for the Nitten Exhibition in 1972 and Chunichi International Ceramics Exhibition in 1978 (after which he became a regular at these two exhibitions as well). Received high honors such as being selected from the International Ceramics Exhibition to provide (more…)

Kato Keizan 2nd 二代 加藤渓山

1913-1995maleBorn the eldest son of Kato Keizan, he learned basic techniques for glazing and modeling at industrial school and later at the Kyoto National Ceramics Research Institute. In 1931, he began assisting his father at his ceramics workshop and in the same year became a member of the Shinko Kogei Association, which was presided over by Rokubei (5th Generation), from whom he sought guidance. Right from the beginning, he was repeatedly selected to exhibit his works at exhibitions such as the Imperial Exhibition, Kyoto Prefectural Exhibitions, and others, received praise from the Ministry of Commerce and Industry as a preserver (more…)

Kato Keizan 加藤渓山

1879-1962maleFounded a kiln in Gojozaka, Kyoto, in 1912.Afterwards worked on research into celadon ceramics during the Chinese Song and Yuan dynasties in China and established “Keizan Celadon” where he worked to rejuvenate this art form. Certified as a technology preserver of intangible cultural property by the city of Kyoto. Primarily held solo exhibitions at Takashimaya nationwide, including Kyoto Takashimaya. (more…)

Hatano Zenzo 波多野善蔵

1942–malehagi potteryBorn in Saga Prefecture. Won the Governor’s Award and Minister of Education Award at the Yamaguchi Prefecture Exhibition. Received honorary award from the Japan Kogei Association, of which he is a member. Received honorary award from the prefectural art promotion department. Held solo exhibitions at Nihonbashi and Osaka’s Takashimaya. (more…)

Eiraku Zengoro 14th Tokuzen 十四代 永楽善五郎 得全

1853-1909malekyo potteryEiraku Tokuzen. Eldest son of 12th generation (Wazen). Specialized in copying Ninsei’s painting as well as red painting. His painting was masculine and frank, unprecedented in the Eiraku family for generations, but not to a slipshod degree due to its use of more advanced technology. In the first year of Meiji (1868), Nishimura’s surname was abolished and replaced with Eiraku. Exhibited Eiraku-ware at the Vienna Expo in 1873 and also at the Philadelphia Expo in 1876, and won the Flower Crest Award. Also received awards for his water pitchers and incense containers at the 1878 Paris Expo and 1881 (more…)

Eiraku Zengoro 15th Shozen 十五代 永楽善五郎 正全

1880-1932malekyo potteryTokuzen’s nephew. After Tokuzen’s death, he helped Myozen, working as his assistant. He then worked as the 15th generation head of the kiln for five years following the death of Myozen. Upon relocating to Shigaraki, he became especially adept at copying Shigaraki-ware and other styles. Received the title of Shozen from Mokurai, a chief of Kenninji temple. (more…)

Eiraku Zengoro 14th Myozen 十四代 永楽善五郎 妙全

1852-1927femalekyo potteryShe was Tokuzen’s wife. Following the death of Tokuzen, named herself Eiraku Zengoro XIV and made efforts to protect the family business, raising his son as Zengoro XV. Received the title “Myozen” in 1914 from Mitsui Takatoshi with boxes containing the work stamped with the seal of the 14th generation Tokuzen along with the letter Yu (悠) as written by Mitsui Takatoshi. Many of her works were Seisai Sosa’s taste, elegant, and feminine. (more…)

Uchida Koichi 内田鋼一

1969-malebanko potteryCompleted Aichi Prefectural Seto Ceramics High School ceramics course in 1990 before moving to Yokkaichi, Mie prefecture in 1992. Participated in the “Seeing the Container – Living the Life” Exhibition at Tokyo’s National Museum of Modern Art in 2000. Held his first solo exhibition in 2015 and continued to do so every year. Mainly focuses on producing tea-ware that combine tradition with originality and creativity. (more…)

Utsumi Kichizo 内海吉造

1831-1885malekutani porcelainWorked as a factory manager at Abe Oumi Ceramics Factory. Exhibited decorative porcelain at the Philadelphia Centennial International Exposition in 1876. Awarded third prize at the Uchikoku Expo in 1881 for his kachosansui flower vase and confectionary bowl. Invented a technique for re-baking spots using Kutani-ware gold paint. After that, he went independent and established Ishun-sha company, where many ceramics artists studied and trained. (more…)

Uematsu Tosui 植松陶翠

1899-1959maleKnown as Uematsu Chotaro, he sold bonsai pots in Tokyo, later commissioning kilns around the world to produce original pots that he had designed. Took advantage of this to financially support Mizuno Haramatsu’s Harumatsu Pottery Garden, a pot-only designed to concentrate production. There was a time when Chotaro was teaching pottery techniques to Harumatsu’s younger brother Mizuno Masao and pulled his work out of the kiln and took it to the Tatsuta River to make it, laying a foundation for his later famous Uematsu Tosui bowls. (more…)

Uchijima Hokuro 内島北朗

1893-1978maleBorn in Takaoka, Toyama prefecture. Introduced to the Ogata Kenzan kiln. Later founded the Yoyokai. Recipient of the 1925 France Expo Silver Award. (more…)

Uemura Hakuo 上村白鴎

1754-1832maletokoname potteryKnown for Tokoname-ware. Succeeded in firing idotsu (well cylinders) whole, a method still in use today. Also demonstrated his talent in creating tea-ware and figurines using hand-twisting techniques. Many enthusiasts even today revere Uemura as one of the most renowned master craftsmen of the Edo period. He was also well known as a singer and poet. Later in life, he was invited to the han domain’s Ofuke kiln where he engaged in making ceramics with Hirasawa Kuro. (more…)

Uno Soyo 1st 初代 宇野宗甕

1888-1973makeSon of Uno Jinmatsu who was a Kiyomizu-ware potter.1952 – shinsha (cinnabar) receives Kyoto City Intangible Cultural Property certification.1957 – seiji (celadon) certified as an intangible cultural property.1965 – Received the shiju-hosho (Medal with Purple Ribbon). Awarded the Order of the Sacred Treasure (Fourth Order of Merit). (more…)

Uguisudani Shohei 鶯谷庄平

1830-1912maleWork at the Kanazawa Town Hall as a young man, but after the abolition of the feudal han domain system, he learned how to make Raku ware and tea ceremony ceramics working under Hara Gozan. He moved to Kyoto in 1977 where he worked at Gojozaka, returning Kanazawa two or three years later. After handing his kiln over to Nozaki Sakichi in 1985, he built a small kiln in Yuki. His work is said to be an excellent imitation of the mid-Edo period artist Aoki Mokubei, who favored the Kyo-ware style. (more…)

Asakura Isokichi 3rd 三代 浅蔵五十吉

1941-malekutani porcelainBorn the eldest son of Asakura Isokichi II, he studied under Kitade Tojiro in 1962 after finishing his time at the National Nagoya Industrial Technology Research Institute’s Department of Ceramics.After winning his first prize at the Ishikawa Prefecture Contemporary Art Exhibition in 1963, he has also been selected for prizes at the Japan Fine Arts Exhibition, the Japan Contemporary Art Exhibition, etc. He received the highest award at the Ishikawa Contemporary Art Exhibition in 1972, the Japan Fine Arts Exhibition Special Award in 1972 (selected again in 1986), and the Membership Award at the Japan Contemporary Art Exhibition in (more…)

Ajiki Hiro 安食ひろ

1948-maleDropped out of Musashino Art University. Since 1971, he has traveled to more than 25 countries, including India, Europe, and Africa to interact with the cultures of each region. He built an ascending kiln upon his return to Japan and the beginning of his independence.Beginning with his receipt of the Tanabe Museum of Art Ceremony Model Exhibition Grand Prize in 1987, he also received the Exhibition Honorable Mention at this same exhibition, an Excellence Award, the Tanko Biennial Special Award, Honorable Mentions, etc. He held a solo exhibition and tea ceremony in India in 2005, and in the same year (more…)

Aragaki Eizaburo 新垣栄三郎

1921-1984maletsuboya potteryBorn to Aragaki Eitoku V of the pottery family who creates Ryukyu ware in Tsuboya, Naha, Okinawa, he was familiar with pottery from childhood and received guidance from Hamada Shoji and Kawai Kanjiro, who had come to observe the folk art movement in 1939.After graduating from Taichung Normal School in Taiwan in 1941, he worked in an elementary school in Shimane Prefecture. After the war, he worked in his hometown’s Tsuboya Elementary School from 1947 to 1954.Following this, he began to devote himself to pottery, and received high praise at a number of exhibitions, including the National Artists’ Association (more…)

Asano Yo 浅野陽

1923- 1997maleHe began majoring in lacquer arts, but he was influenced by Tomimoto Kenkichi and Fujimoto Yoshimichi at the Tokyo Fine Arts School’s Industrial Arts Technical Training Center and proceeded down the path of pottery.Upon becoming independent, he exhibited a number of times at the Industrial Art Association’s Japan Traditional Crafts Exhibition, which earned him the post of full member of the Industrial Arts Association.Otherwise, he mainly presented his work in solo exhibitions. (more…)

Asai Ichigo 浅井一毫

1836-1916malekutani porcelainBorn the second son of Asai Choemon of the Kaga Daishoji Domain, he studied Japanese painting under Horibun Ishiki and Kojima Harcho, and handled coloring at the Kutani Ware Miyamoto Kiln.In 1866, when the domain presented a set of tea ceremony tools to Mr. Nijo, he was in charge of its production. The feudal lord presented him with the inscription “Soseitei Ikki,” and he became a master of the “akae saibyou” style of painting.In the beginning of the Meiji Era, he adopted Eiriki Wazen’s “kinrade” technique to create “kinrade akae,” giving new direction to Kutani ware.He also traveled to (more…)

Itaya Hazan 板谷波山

1872-1963maleGraduated from Tokyo Art School (Tokyo University of the Arts) in the Sculpting Department.Learned alongside students such as Okakura Tenshin and Takamura Koun.He built a home at Tabata which also doubled as a workshop, and after installing a downdraft style kiln, he devoted himself to creating pottery in order to utilize the fruits of the research on pottery he had engaged in up until that point.In 1907, he exhibited his work, “Jisei Kinshimon Kesshoyu Vase” at the Tokyo Industrial Exposition and won third place prize.After winning many prizes, he was appointed an Imperial Household Artist in 1934. In 1945, his (more…)