Shoji Hamada: Flat vase, Kaki glaze, red painting

Sunday May 4th, 2014

Shoji Hamada 　　浜田庄司

1894 Born in Kawasaki, Kanagawa prefecture. 
1916 Graduated from Tokyo Institute of Technology. Entered Kyoto Ceramic Experimental Station. 
1920 Visited England invited by Bernard Leach. 
1924 Stayed in Okinawa and Kyoto after coming back in Japan.
1926 Began Mingei movement with Soetsu Yanagi and Kanjiro Kawai. 
1931 Built ascending kiln in Mashiko, Tochigi prefecture. 
1955 Designated as a Living National Treasure. 
1968 Awarded an Order of Cultural Merit 
1978 Passed away at the age of 84.

Toyo Kaneshige: Sake cup, Bizen type

Sunday May 4th, 2014

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.

Bernard Leach: Tobacco container

Sunday May 4th, 2014

Bernard Leach

1887 Born in Hong Kong. Lived in Japan until 4.
1907 Entered London School of Art. Met Kotaro Takamura.
1909 Returned to Japan. Established a painting school, and met Souetsu Yanagi.
1910 Met Kenkichi tomimoto.
1911 Apprenticed to Kenzan OgataⅥ. Began ceramics.
1917 Built a kiln at Souetsu Yanagi’s house. Met Shoji hamada.
1920 Went to England with Shoji Hamada.
1922 Began producing ceramics at St.Ives, England.
1934 Returned to Japan. Produced ceramics at various places afterwards.
1979 Passed away at the age of 90.

Bernard Leach: Tea bowl, Black raku type

Sunday May 4th, 2014

Made with Nyoshunan Moriguchi, a master of tea ceremony in Nagoya.

Bernard Leach

Kenkichi Tomimoto: Ornamental box, porcelain, overglaze enamels and gold

Sunday May 4th, 2014

Kenkichi Tomimoto　富本憲吉

1886 Born in Ando village, Nara prefecture.
1904 Entered the design course at the Tokyo School of Fine Arts.
1908 Studied architecture and interior decoration in England.
1910 Returned to Japan.
Began woodprint and other fine arts.
1913 Began Raku ware influenced by Bernard Leach.
1919 Began white porcelain.
1926 Involved with Mingei movement with Shoji Hamada and
Kanjiro Kawai.
1927 Moved to Soshigaya, Tokyo.
1935 Became a professor at Musashino Art University.
1944 became a professor at Tokyo School of Fine Arts.
1946 Resigned his position. Moved to Kyoto.
1948 Solo exhibition at Ginza Kuroda Touen.
1949 Show at Ginza Kuroda Touen. ‘Kenkichi Tomimoto- Ceramic Plaque Exhibition’
1950 Became a professor at Kyoto City University of Fine Arts.
1955 Designated the first Living National Treasure.
1961 Received the Order of Cultural Merit.
1963 Became a president at Kyoto City University of Fine Arts.
Passed away at the age of 77.

Eri Sayoko

Saturday May 3rd, 2014

Tokuro Kato: Sake cup

Saturday May 3rd, 2014

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.