1916-2004
male
kyo pottery
living national treasure
Born into a ceramics wholesalers in Higashiyama, Kyoto, he aspired to be a pottery artist at around 15 years of age and studied under Ishiguro Munemaro.
In 1951, he was chosen for a prize for the first time in the Seventh Japan Fine Arts Exhibition, and he displayed his works in the Japan Traditional Kogei Exhibition, which was newly started in 1955 and was presided over by the Japan Kogei Association. He received the Japan Kogei Association President Award of this exhibition in 1960.
During this time, he also took part in the formation of societies such as the Shikokai society and Ryokutokai Society.
In addition, he received awards such as the Asahi Award in the Contemporary Ceramic Art Exhibition in 1953, the Japan Ceramics Society Best Artisan Award in 1955, a Grand Prix in the Brussels International Exposition in 1958 and Top Prize in the Washington State International Ceramics Awards in 1963. In 1985 (60th year of the Showa period), he was acknowledged as a Nationally Designated Important Intangible Cultural Property (Living National Treasure) for iron glaze pottery, and he then received the Medal with Purple Ribbon in the same year.
At the start, he produced works such as persimmon glaze, celadon, tenmoku, white glaze and iron glaze at his workshop in his home. However, in 1970, he newly opened a kiln in Horaicho, Shiga Prefecture. From that point onward, he founded works of Horai glaze, which is the molding blend of white glaze and black glaze (iron glaze). He showed a dignified domain in his craft, and was rated highly in both the fields of tea pottery and modern pottery.
