Guro Kamiguchi 上口愚朗

1892 Born in Tokyo.
1908 Worked for a bespoke tailor for Imperial Household Ministry.
1918 Opened a clothing store in Yanaka, Tokyo. Gained a great reputation as the best tailor in Japan. He had clients from political and business worlds, and people of culture. Rosanjin, Shoji Hamada, Munemaro Ishiguro were a part of them.
1925 Started collecting antiques.
1938 One of the clients, Handeishi Kawakita suggested him to make ceramics.
1945 Closed the store under the war.
1946 Aspired to be a ceramic artist. Built a studio.
1949 Built friendship with Taikan Yokoyama.
1952 The first solo exhibition at Ginza Kuroda Touen. (1953)
1954 Solo exhibition at Takashimaya department store in Nihombashi.
1955 Solo exhibition at Daimaru in Tokyo. (1956, 1957)
1957 Accepted for Japan Traditional Art Crafts Exhibition. Actively submitted writings about ceramic antiques for publications.
1962 Solo exhibition at Mitsukoshi department store in Nihombashi. (Every year onwards)
1969 Jian Matsunaga bought his Ido tea bowl at the solo exhibition at Mitsukoshi.
1970 Passed away at the age of 78.

Kanjiro Kawai: Tea bowl, Yuteki Tenmoku type [Shokei Kiln]

Tuesday June 10th, 2014

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.

Hazan Itaya: Sash clip (Obidome), Celadon, Quatrefoil design

Thursday June 5th, 2014

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.

Fujio Koyama: Flower vase, Celadon type

Sunday June 1st, 2014

Fujio Koyama 小山 冨士夫

1900 Born in Kurashiki, Okayama prefecture.
1920 Entered Hitotsubashi University.
1925 Moved to Seto. Started learning ceramics.
1927 Aspired to be a ceramic artist.
1932 Became an editorial staff for a journal of antique porcelain.
1933 Became an investigator of important art pieces, commissioned by the ministry of education.
1946 Japanese ceramic society was established. Became a director.
1952 Worked for a section of intangible culture in a committee of cultural protection.
1961 Resigned from his position.
1966 Built his kiln in Kamakura, restarted producing ceramics.
1967 Became a director of Japan Art Crafts association.
1973 Moved to Toki, Gifu prefecture. Built ‘Hananoki Kiln’.
1975 Passed away at the age of 75.