1916-1987
male
mashiko pottery
living national treasure
After graduating from Tokyo University of the Arts, he served as a teacher in Osaka for a while. He first became interested in ceramics around this time, but resigned due to his conscription.
After WWII, he studied ceramics techniques in Kyoto under Tomimoto Kenkichi, then returned to his hometown, Tochinoki. In 1948 he took part in establishing Akami ware in Sano, Tochigi prefecture. The same year, he exhibited at the second Tochigi Art Festival, where he was noticed by Hamada Shoji. In 1950 he became a technical official for the Tochigi Prefectural Ceramics Coaching Center.
In 1953 he opened his own kiln and began producing ceramics in earnest. Beginning with awards such as the Asahi newspaper company prize and the Matsuzakaya prize at the Japan Ceramic Art Exhibition in 1956, and the 1957 Japan Ceramics Society prize, he established a firm position as a ceramic artist, winning the Tomimoto prize at the 1961 Shinsho Association Exhibition, the Grand Prix prize at the 1967 Istanbul International Ceramics Exhibition, the 1970 Tochigi prefecture prize for cultural services, and another Japan Ceramics Society prize in 1975. In 1986 he was recognized as a Living National Treasure for his tetsu-e (iron glazed) ceramics.
At first he produced works which applied tetsu-e ceramics painting to traditional iron glazes called kakiyu, kuroyu, and okatsuyu. But beginning around the 1970s, he also expanded his tetsu-e techniques to cinnabar glazes and celadon porcelain works.
His unique tetsu-e techniques are a feature of every one of his works, but the glazes used in those works are to a certain extent references for research into the period they were produced in. Tamura’s apprentice, Matsui Kosei, was himself also a Living National Treasure.
