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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 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…)

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…)

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…)

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…)

Shimaoka Tatsuzo 島岡達三

1919-2007malemashiko potteryliving national treasureBorn in 1919 (eighth year of the Taisho era), the eldest son of Shimaoka Yonekichi, a braid maker from Atago, Tokyo. In his third year of high school, inspired by works of Kawai Kanjiro and Hamada Shoji he had witnessed at the Japan Folk Crafts Museum, he resolved to become a potter. In 1939, he enrolled in the ceramics department at the Tokyo Institute of Technology. The following year, he visited Mashiko to meet with Hamada, who agreed to accept Shimaoka as his apprentice. However, in 1942, following the breakout of the Pacific War, Shimaoka joined a (more…)

Sakaida Kakiemon 14th 十四代 酒井田柿右衛門

1934-2013malearita porcelainliving national treasureBorn the eldest son of the 13th generation Kakiemon, he learned pottery from his father as well as his grandfather (the 12th generation Kakiemon.) He was chosen for a prize for the first time in the 28th Issuikai Exhibition in 1966. He was also chosen for a prize for the first time in the First Western Japan Kogei Exhibition, which was newly established in the same year.From that point onward, he continued to display his works in the Saga Prefecture Exhibition and, from 1968, the Japan Traditional Kogei Exhibition. In 1971, he was nominated for full member (more…)

Raku Kichizaemon 15th Jikinyu 十五代 楽吉左衛門 直入

1949-maleraku potteruJikinyu, was born as Kakunyu’s eldest son of the 14th generation of the Raku family. His childhood name was Mitsuhiro, and he later took the name Sokichi.After graduating from the sculpture department of Tokyo University of Arts in 1973, he went to Italy to study at the Accademia di Roma. During his stay in Rome, he learned the art of tea ceremony from Nojiri Tomoko. He returned to Japan from Italy in 1976 and his father, Kakunyu, died four years later. The next year, Jikinyu was given the title ‘Kichizaemon the 15th’. His first solo exhibition commemorated the title (more…)

Raku Kichizaemon 14th Kakunyu 十四代 楽吉左衛門 覚入

1918-1980maleraku potteryBorn as the eldest son of thirteenth generation Raku master Seinyu, his birth name was Yoshihisa but was later changed to Sokichi. He graduated from the Tokyo Fine Arts School (now Tokyo University of the Arts) with a degree in sculpture in 1940. Afterwards, he returned to his home province, and with his father having already passed away the year prior, he inherited the mantle of Kichizaemon at the age of 28. Upon returning home, Kakunyu had to reestablish the Raku family and begin making pottery literally on his own. It was after 1955 that Kakunyu is thought to (more…)

Raku Kichizaemon 13th Seinyu 十三代 楽吉左衛門 惺入

1887-1944maleraku potteryBorn as the eldest son of Konyu who was 12th generation in his family. His birth name was Sokichi, and he was later renamed Yoshihide. In 1919, he succeeded the family at age 33 after Konyu retired. In 1944, he died without retiring at age 58. Seinyu loved tea ceremony from the bottom of his heart and worked hard for the prosperity of the culture of the tea ceremony. He published a series of research journals on tea ceremony called “Sado seseragi” between 1935 and 1942, which was a groundbreaking attempt for both research on tea ceremony and enlightenment, (more…)

Raku Kichizaemon 12th Konyu 十二代 楽吉左衛門 弘入

1857-1932maleraku potteryBorn as the first son of Keinyu, Raku the 11th. Inherits the family estate at age 15, passes the estate to his eldest son Seinyu at age 63 and retires. He dies at age 76. Konyu is said to have had a mild temperament and exerted all his effort for the survival of the Raku family. He enjoyed poem, and led a secluded life at the summer house in Ishiyama in Shiga Prefecture, indulged in art as he created potteries. He has left many poems such as “as I play around with soil, my 76th autumn arrives”, “time has (more…)

Raku Kichizaemon 11th Keinyu 十一代 楽吉左衛門 慶入

1817-1902maleraku potteryBorn as the third son of Naohachi Ogawa, a sake brewer from Tamba Province, in what is present-day Kokubu, Chitose-cho in Kameoka City, Kyoto Prefecture. He first went by the name Sokichi, and he was later renamed Yoshitsura. At the age of 11, he was adopted by Tannyu X, later taking Tannyu’s daughter Myokoku as his wife. At the age of 29, he succeeded Tannyu as patriarch of the family, taking the name Kichizaemon. At the age of 55 he went into retirement, and passed away at 86. His period as an active ceramicist was second only to Ryonyu (more…)

Raku Kichizaemon 10th Tannyu 十代 楽吉左衛門 旦入

1795-1854maleraku pottery9th generation, Ryonyu’s second son. His father, Ryonyu retired at the age of 56, but since his older brother died young, Tannyu succeeded as the family head at the age of 17. He retired at the age of 51 and changed his name to Tannyu, taking the “Tan” character from Soutan from the Omotesen family 10th generation Kyukosai. Tannyu and the Kishu Tokugawa family came to have a deeper connection than ever before. In the second year of the Bunsei era when Tannyu was 25 years old, the 10th generation of the Kishu Tokugawa family, Lord Harutomi opened an (more…)

Raku Kichizaemon 9th Ryonyu 九代 楽吉左衛門 了入

1756-1834maleraku potteryRyonyu was the second son of Chonyu, the seventh generation head. Because his elder brother, Tokunyu the eighth generation, was in poor health, Ryonyu inherited the head of the household at age 15. From that point on he led a long life crafting ceramics, until his passing at the age of 79. He lost his father at age 15, his elder brother at 19, and when he was 33, all of the family’s works since the time of Chojiro were lost in the Great Tenmei Fire (also known as ‘Donguri Yake’ the Acorn Blaze) that burned most of Kyoto (more…)

Raku Kichizaemon 8th Tokunyu 八代 楽吉左衛門 得入

1745-1774maleraku potteryHe was born as the eldest son of Chonyu, the 7th head. He was named Sokichi at birth and he was later renamed Eisei. He inherited the headship at 18, but when his father Chonyu passed away when he was 26, he also passed on the headship to his younger brother Sojiro (later Ryonyu), who was 15, because he had a weak constitution. He changed his name to Sabe and retired. He never married and passed away at the young age of 30. The name “Tokunyu” was given to him on the occasion of the 25th memorial service to (more…)

Raku Kichizaemon 7th Chonyu 七代 楽吉左衛門 長入

1714-1770maleraku potteryBorn as the eldest son of the 6th generation Sanyu, he took over as the head of the family and didn’t retire until age 49, later passing away at age 57. Since taking on this new role, he worked tirelessly making pottery and ceramics for 40 years. His original name was Sokichi, and he was later renamed Eisei. After Chojiro started on the Raku tea bowls, they were followed up by potters Jokei and Donyu to give them a more modern decorative effect, changing them quite drastically. During the era of Ichiiri and Sonyu, there was a return to (more…)