Monthly Archives: May 2014

Kanjiro Kawai: Flat vase, Three colored

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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.

Tokuro Kato: Tea bowl, Setoguro type

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Tokuro Kato  加藤　唐九郎

1898 Born in Seto, Aichi prefecture.
1914 Began involving with ceramic industry.
1933 Published an essay, ‘Kiseto’.
1934 Published ‘Ceramics dictionary’
1935 Moved to Nagoya, Aichi.
1950 Solo exhibition ‘Seto-guro tea bowls’ at Ginza Kuroda Touen.
1954 Joined Tori-kai.
1955 Organized Nihon Kogei Kai’ (the Japan Art Crafts Association.) with Toyozo Arakawa and Munemaro Ishiguro.
1960 ‘Einin no tsubo’ scandal
1964 Solo exhibition – Commemoration of Tokyo Olympics-
1972 Published ‘Genshoku ceramic dictionary’.
1982 The last solo exhibition ‘The world of Tokuro Kato’.
1985 Passed away at the age of 87.

Tokuro Kato: Tea bowl, Gray Shino

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Tokuro Kato  加藤　唐九郎

1898 Born in Seto, Aichi prefecture.
1914 Began involving with ceramic industry.
1933 Published an essay, ‘Kiseto’.
1934 Published ‘Ceramics dictionary’
1935 Moved to Nagoya, Aichi.
1950 Solo exhibition ‘Seto-guro tea bowls’ at Ginza Kuroda Touen.
1954 Joined Tori-kai.
1955 Organized Nihon Kogei Kai’ (the Japan Art Crafts Association.) with Toyozo Arakawa and Munemaro Ishiguro.
1960 ‘Einin no tsubo’ scandal
1964 Solo exhibition – Commemoration of Tokyo Olympics-
1972 Published ‘Genshoku ceramic dictionary’.
1982 The last solo exhibition ‘The world of Tokuro Kato’.
1985 Passed away at the age of 87.

Rosanjin Kitaoji: Dish, Folding fan design

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Rosanjin Kitaoji　北大路 魯山人

1883 Born in Shimogamo Kitaoji, Kyoto.

1907 Began his career as a calligrapher in Tokyo.

1916 Wandered around Korea, China, Shiga, Fukui, and Kanazawa. Returned to Kyoto.

1919 Opened his antique shop in Tokyo.

1921 Began 'Bishoku club' (Gourmet's club) which serves his food with his collections.

1925 Began 'Hoshigaoka Saryo'. (Members-only restaurant)

1928 Built 'Hoshigaoka kiln' in Kamakura for producing dishes used in the restaurant.
His 　　  reputation rose as his works exhibited in department stores and the restaurant.

1935 Started focusing on producing ceramics.

1936 Left the management of the restaurant. 

1937 The first exhibition of his new works held at Ginza Kuroda Touen.

1939 The Hoshigaoka kiln was blisk holding about 50 staff around this year. 

1942 Evacuation in Ishikawa prefecture. Produced lacquer ware there.

1954 Held a solo exhibition in New York, invited by Rockefeller Foundation.

         Visited U.S. and Europe. 

1955 Declined certification of a living national treasure.

1956 Actively held exhibitions in Tokyo, Kyoto and Nagoya.

1959 Passed away at the age of 77.

Kazuo Yagi: Tea bowl, Raku 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.

Kyuwa Miwa: Tea bowl, Hagi type

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Kyuwa Miwa　 三輪 休和

1896 Born in Hagi, Yamaguchi prefecture. The second son of Setsudo Miwa Ⅸ.
1910 Began ceramics as family business.
1927 Succeeded to the name of Kyusetsu Ⅹ.
1942 Associated with Handeishi Kawakita.
1967 Handed the reigns of the family over to the younger brother, Setsuo. 
         Named himself as Kyuwa.
1970 Designated as a Living National Treasure.
1977 Passed away at the age of 86.