Nodo Fujimoto 藤本 能道
1919 Born in Tokyo.
1941 Graduated from The Tokyo School of fine arts, the department of crafts. (current Tokyo University of the Arts)
1970 Became a professor at the university.
1976 Show at Ginza Kuroda Touen. ‘Ceramic Plaque Exhibition’
1985 Appointed to the president of the university.
1986 Designated the Living National Treasure.
1991 Received the Order of the Rising Sun, Gold and Silver star.
1992 Passed away at the age of 73.
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.
Muan Nakazato 中里 無庵
1895 Born in karatsu, Saga. The second son of Taroemon Nakazato ⅩⅠ.
1914 Began ceramics under his father. Started researching old Karatsu from Momoyama period.
1927 Succession to the name. Became Taroemon Nakazato ⅩⅡ.
1966 Received a Medal with Dark Blue Ribbon.
1969 Received the Order of the sacred treasure, Gold Rays with Neck Ribbon.
1969 Handed the reigns of the family over to the first son. Named himself as Muan.
1976 Designated a Living National Treasure.
1985 Passed away at the age of 89.
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.
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.
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.
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.
