A solo exhibition by Akihiko Sugita, a lacquer artisan based in Kanazawa, Ishikawa Prefecture, was held at Sundries in Minami Aoyama, Tokyo from June 5 to 26, 2021.The first thing that catches your eye as you step into the gallery under a rare burst of bright sunshine in the rainy season is the black lacquer art panel hanging at the entrance. Shifting your gaze to the back of the gallery, you will...

A solo exhibition by ceramic artist Nami Takahashi was held at Terada Bijyutsu Antiques and Gallery in Minami Aoyama, Tokyo from June 19 to 25, 2021. In this exhibition, in addition to her signature works of pure white porcelain, new works with pearl and platinum glaze were introduced. Visitors were greeted by a variety of works, starting from tea ware and sake ware to tableware, vases, and incens...

A solo exhibition of Shigaraki ceramic artist Katsunori Sawa was held at Asakusa Japanese Pottery Gallery Tobetobekusa, Tokyo from April 10 to 18, 2021.One of the characteristics of Katsunori’s works is their wide range of variations. Shigaraki conveys the power of clay and fire, while Oribe is rich in individuality, with joyful painting and a playful spirit. Together with Shino, Hikidashi-g...

A solo exhibition by Seto ceramic artist Makoto Yamaguchi was held at Ginza Kuroda Touen Annex in Tokyo from April 3-8, 2021.Makoto is a ceramic artist based in Seto, Aichi Prefecture, who works in Oribe, Shino, Kiseto, and other styles. His Oribe works in particular reflect his contemporary sensibility, and many possess an innovative and gorgeous beauty. His annual solo exhibition at Kuroda Touen...

From April 2 to 6, 2021, an exhibition of new works by Taki and Kenta Nakazato, father and son potters from Karatsu, was held at the Miyuki Branch of Ginza Manyodo.Taki and Kenta, together with Taki’s father Takashi Nakazato, have been making pottery for three generations. Designed for daily life, each piece is individually brought to life using a traditional potter’s kick wheel to enhance t...

Brothers Motomasa and Susumu Yotsukawa are the president and senior managing director, respectively, of Yotsukawa Seishakusho, a company engaged in product design and sales of Takaoka copperware. Motomasa joined the company shortly after graduating from university. Susumu rediscovered the appeal of his family business and its craftsmanship after working in the United States for another company, an...

HULS Inc. will release a new item, “Hydrangea – Water Vessel (L)” on 8th August (Sat).KORAI proposes “senseware” as an art piece that triggers human sensitivity and opens the door to new senses by feeling nature in our daily living. The large-sized “Hydrangea – Water Vessel (L)” has been added to the “Hydrangea – Water Vessel” series that was released as part of KORAI’s first senseware collection ...

Shuji Hataishi represents the fifth generation of the Imari Nabeshima ware company, Hataman Touen, and an active artist. As the eldest of three siblings, he was born and raised in Imari Okawachiyama in Saga Prefecture. He studied at the University of Art and Design in Tokyo (Tokyo Zokei University), majoring in sculpture. He loved to work with a pitch black stone called kuro-mikage (black granite)...

Mix the paint and apply it on the woodblock. Place the Japanese washi (paper) carefully on the block and use the baren (a flat pad) to rub the washi. After these processes and with bated breath, Mr. Noriyasu Soda quickly pulls the washi off from the wood block, on which a beautiful color with deep perspectives appears. “Although it is just transferring colors onto paper, depending on the artisan’s...

Mr. Koji Orii is the founder of “Momentum Factory Orii, Co.,Ltd.”, which deals with a wide range of coloring of Takaoka copperware. Born and raised in Takoka City in Toyama Prefecture, he is the third generation of a long-established “Orii-chakushokujyo (coloring factory). After graduating from university, he worked hard and had a fulfilling career in an IT company in Tokyo. Howe...

To celebrate the renewal of KOGEI STANDARD, I had an interview with Ms. Noriko Tsuiki, a textile artist of Kokura-ori.I met with Ms. Tsuiki in 2015. It started from the encounter with the textile brand “KOKURA SHIMA SHIMA”, which Ms. Tsuiki herself is the creative director. I first encountered the beautiful vertical stripe fabric in “Interior Lifestyle”, an international trade fa...

Q1：What kind of encounter did you have with Kokura-ori?I did not graduate from an art university and my family business was not related to Kogei, so, my approach was rather different. I like literature since my childhood and when I was a university student, I was attracted by early modern Japanese theater styles and started to learn about Zeami (Noh actor). Subsequently, I started studying weaving...