Yaichi Kusube: Insence container, Saien type

Yaichi Kusube 楠部 彌弌

1897 Born in Higashiyama, Kyoto prefecture.
1912 Entered Kyoto Ceramic Experimental Station Attached Training Center.
1918 Began ceramics in Sanjo, Kyoto.
1920 Organized a group of ceramists, ‘Aka tsuchi sha’.
1924 Awarded at the Paris Universal Exposition.
1927 Awarded his first prize at Teiten.
1937 Completed ‘Saien’ technique.
1938 Moved to Okazaki, Kyoto prefecture.
1962 Became a member of the Japan Art Academy.
1965 Moved to Yamashina, Kyoto.
1972 Designated as a person of cultural merits by Kyoto city.
1978 Received the Order of Cultural Merit.
1984 Passed away at the age of 87.

Toyo Kaneshige: Incense container, Bizen type, Owl shape

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.

Tokuro Kato: Bowl, Kiseto type, with a character of fortune

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.

Toyozo Arakawa: Sake cup, Shino type

Toyozo Arakawa 荒川 豊蔵

1894 Born in Tajimi, Gifu prefecture.
1922 Moved to Kyoto. Met Rosanjin Kitaoji.
1927 Moved to Kamakura. Worked at Rosanjin’s Hoshigaoka Kiln.
1933 Quit Hoshigaoka Kiln. Moved to Mutabora in Mino Ogaya, Gifu prefecture, and built his studio.
1941 The first solo exhibition held at Umeda Hankyu department store. (Curated by Ginza Kuroda Touen)
1946 Built Suigetsu kiln in Tajimi.
1955 Designated the Living national treasure.
1971 Received the Order of Cultural Merit.
1977 Published a collection of essays.
1985 Passed away at the age of 91.

Rosanjin Kitaoji and Toyo Kaneshige: Sake bottle, Bizen type

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