Monthly Archives: May 2014

Kazuo Yagi: Pea jar

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Kazuo Yagi　八木一夫

1918 Born in Higashiyama, Kyoto.
1931 Entered the the sculpture course at the Kyoto Municipal School of Arts and crafts.
1939 Joined the army. Discharged from the army the next year.
1943 Became a teacher at Ritsumeikan Junior High School.
1946 Left teaching, and started focusing on producing ceramics.
         Formed a young ceramic artists group, ‘Seinen Sakuto Shudan’. 
         Dissolved two years later.
1948 Founded ‘Sodeisha’ with Osamu Suzuki, Hikaru Yamada, and others.
1954 Created The walk of Mr. Samsa.
1955 Began Unglazed ceramics.
1957 Began Black ware.
1959 Won Gold medal for ‘Vase, Iron Inlay’ at the Internstional Exhibition of Ceramics,
         Ostend in Belgium.
1962 Won a gold medal at the 3rd International Ceramic Exhibition in Prague by
        ‘Monument, Queen Consort’.
1970 Shown at the exhibition ‘Contemporary Ceramics Art-Europe and Japan’ 
         at the National Museum of Modern Art, Kyoto and Tokyo.
1971 Became a professor of the Kyoto Municipal College of Fine Arts.
         Designed the medals of the 11th Winter Olympic in Sapporo.
1973 Investigated the Middle East as a captain of Silk road research team.
         Won the first prize at Japan Ceramic Association.
1974 Show at Ginza Kuroda Touen. ‘ Contemporary Ceramic plaque exhibition’
1976 Published a collection of essays - ‘Kaichu no Fukei’.
1978 Show at Isetan department store. ‘The 60th Anniversary of his Birth’.
1979 Passed away at the age of 60.

Hazan Itaya: Incense container, Japanese apricot design

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Hazan Itaya

1872 Born in Shimodate, Ibaraki prefecture.

1894 Graduated from the department of Sculpture of Tokyo school of Fine arts (current Tokyo University of Arts).

1896 Became a chief teacher of wood sculpture at Ishikawa Institute of technology.

1903 Built a studio at Tabata, Tokyo. Named himself as Hazan. Began his career as a ceramic artist.

1934 Appointed to the Art committee of the Imperial Academy of Fine Arts.

1953 Became the first ceramic artist to receive the Order of Cultural Merit.

1960 Appointed to be a living national treasure, but he declined that.

1963 Passed away at the age of 91.

Handeishi Kawakita: Tea bowl, Shino type, 'Memory'

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Handeishi Kawakita  川喜田 半泥子

1878 Born in Osaka prefecture. 
1879 Succeeded to the name of Kyudayu Masanori.
1903 Became the director of the Hyakugo bank.
1910 Became a member of Mie prefectural assembly.
1912 Began ceramics as hobby.
1919 Became the first president of the Hyakugo bank.
1925 Built a studio in Tsu, Mie prefecture. Started focusing on making ceramics.
1934 Named the studio as ‘Deibutsu do’ and used it as his pen-name too.
1942 Organized ‘Karahine kai’, and lead and coached Toyo Kaneshige, Kyuwa Miwa,
         and Toyozo Arakawa. 
1946 Moved to Hironaga, and built a ceramic studio called ‘Hironaga Touen’.
1957 Published a catalogue cerebrating 80 years old.
1963 Passed away at the age of 84.

Munemaro Ishiguro: Flat jar, E-gorai type, Fish design

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Munemaro Ishiguro  石黒宗麿
1893 Born in Shinminato, Toyama prefecture.
1918 Impressed by the National treasure, Yohen Tenmoku tea bowl. 
         Aspired to be a ceramist.
1919 Began ceramics in Tokyo. Moved around Japan several times.
1927 Moved to Higashiyama Jagadani, Kyoto prefecture.
         Met Fujio Koyama, who would become a sworn friend afterwards.
1935 Built a studio in Yase Rakuhoku, Kyoto.
1937 Won a Silver prize at the Paris Universal Exposition.
1941 The first exhibition at Ginza Kuroda Touen.
1955 Designated as a Living National Treasure.
         Organized ‘Nihon Kogei Kai’ (the Japan Art Crafts Association) with 
         Toyozo Arakawa and Tokuro Kato.
1963 Received Medal with Dark Blue Ribbon.
1968 Passed away at the age of 75.

Kanjiro Kawai: Tea bowl [Shokei kiln]

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Kanjiro Kawai　河井 寛次郎

1890 Born in Aki city, Shimane prefecture.
1914 Completed ceramic industrial course at current Tokyo Institute if technology.
　　    Worked at Kyoto research institute for ceramics.
1920 Began ceramics at Gojozaka in Kyoto. 
          Named his studio as ‘Shokeiyo’ (Shokei kiln)
          Produced pieces which got ideas from Chinese wares.
1922 Gained a great reputation after a solo exhibition in Tokyo.  
1924 Influenced by slipwares.  
1926 Involved with Mingei movement with Soetsu Yanagi and Shoji Hamada.
          Produced pieces of simple form with unique design. 
1937 Won a Grand prix at the Paris Universal Exposition. 
1949 More crative pieces were produced afterwards. 
1966 Passed away at the age of 76.

Kazuo Yagi: Black ware

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Kazuo Yagi　八木一夫

1918 Born in Higashiyama, Kyoto.
1931 Entered the the sculpture course at the Kyoto Municipal School of Arts and crafts.
1939 Joined the army. Discharged from the army the next year.
1943 Became a teacher at Ritsumeikan Junior High School.
1946 Left teaching, and started focusing on producing ceramics.
         Formed a young ceramic artists group, ‘Seinen Sakuto Shudan’. 
         Dissolved two years later.
1948 Founded ‘Sodeisha’ with Osamu Suzuki, Hikaru Yamada, and others.
1954 Created The walk of Mr. Samsa.
1955 Began Unglazed ceramics.
1957 Began Black ware.
1959 Won Gold medal for ‘Vase, Iron Inlay’ at the Internstional Exhibition of Ceramics,
         Ostend in Belgium.
1962 Won a gold medal at the 3rd International Ceramic Exhibition in Prague by
        ‘Monument, Queen Consort’.
1970 Shown at the exhibition ‘Contemporary Ceramics Art-Europe and Japan’ 
         at the National Museum of Modern Art, Kyoto and Tokyo.
1971 Became a professor of the Kyoto Municipal College of Fine Arts.
         Designed the medals of the 11th Winter Olympic in Sapporo.
1973 Investigated the Middle East as a captain of Silk road research team.
         Won the first prize at Japan Ceramic Association.
1974 Show at Ginza Kuroda Touen. ‘ Contemporary Ceramic plaque exhibition’
1976 Published a collection of essays - ‘Kaichu no Fukei’.
1978 Show at Isetan department store. ‘The 60th Anniversary of his Birth’.
1979 Passed away at the age of 60.

Toyo Kaneshige: Flower vase, Bizen type, Kinuta shape

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Toyo Kaneshige　金重 陶陽

1896 Born in Bizen, Okayama prefecture.
1910 Began ceramics as a family business.
1930 Researched early Bizen. Began reproduction of ceramics from Momoyama period.
1936 Met Handeishi Kawakita.
1939 Completed Hidasuki seen in Early Bizen style.
1949 Became a friend with Rosanjin Kitaoji.
1954 Joined in Tori kai.
1955 Organized Nihon Kogei kai (Japan Art Crafts Association) with Toyozo Arakawa and Tokuro Kato.
1956 Designated as a Living National Treasure.
1960 Received Cultural award from Okayama prefecture.
1966 Received Medal with Dark Blue Ribbon.

1967 Passed away at the age of 71.