Kyoto ware - Kawai Kanjiro style Studio Pottery *

Kawai Kanjiro, his successors, and his imitators.

Kawai Kanjiro 河井寬次郎
1890-1966

Kyoto, Japan
After graduating from Tokyo Higher Polytechnical School, Kawai worked and studied at the Kyoto Research Institute for Ceramics. In 1920, he built his own independent kiln in Gojozaka (inherited from Kiyomizu Rokubey V), and married Tsune Kawai (née Mikami Yasu) the same year.
His first ceramics exhibition was held the following year at Tokyo’s Takashimaya Department Store. From the beginning, he studied ancient Chinese and Korean ceramics, and was highly praised for developing pieces with ever more unique molds, but he held doubts about his style, and temporarily ceased to make pottery. It was around this time he was introduced to Yanagi Soetsu by Mashiko potter Hamada Shoji. In 1926, after wishing for the establishment of a “Japanese Mingei Museum” he instigated the mingei (folk art) movement, along with Hamada, Yanagi, Bernard Leach, Munakata Shiko and others.
He resumed making pottery again in 1929, pursuing “the beauty of use” and undergoing a massive change towards mingei style pieces. In 1937 he won the Grand Prix at the Paris Exhibition Internationale for “Tetsushinsha sokazutsubo”, and another Grand Prix at La Triennale di Milano in 1957 for “Shiroji sokaehenko”.
japan-antiques.jp/wp/kawai-kanjiro-%e6%b2%b3%e4%ba%95%e5%af%9b%e6%ac%a1%e9%83%8e/

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kawai_Kanjir%C5%8D

Visit to Kawai Kanjiro's house in Kyoto

Visit to Mingeikan (Japan Folk Arts Museum) and their collection of Kawai Kanjiro pottery

Museum examples

Kusakabe Folk Crafts Museum Takayama, Takayama, Japan

Shoji Hamada Memorial Mashiko Sankokan Museum, Mashiko, Japan, Apr 2024

Japan Folk Crafts Museum, Tokyo, Japan

Honolulu Museum of Art (HoMA)

Kawai Hirotsugu 河井博次
1919-1993

Kyoto, Japan.
Kawai Hirotsugu married Kawai Kanjiro's only daughter Ryo Kawai (Sayako) and was adopted by Kawai Kanjiro as his son.
japanese-ceramics.com/kawai-hirotsugu-%e6%b2%b3%e4%ba%95%e5%8d%9a%e6%ac%a1/

Maybe also called Kawai Hiroji

Kawai Takeichi 河井武一 / Kawai Takekazu / Kawai Buichi
1908-1989

Kyoto, Japan. Takekazu began studying pottery making under Kawai Kanjiro, his uncle, in 1927, and received his guidance over the course of the nearly 40 years until Kanjiro’s death. He inherited mingei techniques such as gosu porcelain, cinnabar lacquerware, and ameyu and kakiyu glazes from his uncle.
During this period, he worked as an assistant to Bernard Leach, who was visiting the Kanetani kiln (Kanjiro’s workshop) in 1935, and sought guidance at his side.
In 1964 he traveled to Australia and New Zealand, holding one man exhibitions and classes in Sydney, Melbourne and Wellington. A three man exhibition along with Kanjiro and Kanjiro’s son Hiroji was held at Tokyo’s Takashimaya Department Store in 1966. In 1978 he toured with a commemorative 50th anniversary pottery exhibition at Takashimaya stores in Tokyo, Osaka, Kyoto, Okayama and Yokohama.
Much like Kanjiro and Hiroji, Takekazu’s pieces have no signature.
japanese-ceramics.com/kawai-takekazu-%E6%B2%B3%E4%BA%95%E6%AD%A6%E4%B8%80/

Kawai Toru 河井透
1941-

Studied under Kawai Takekazu (Takeichi), his father, and under Kawai Kanjiro, his uncle. Kiln in Kameoka.
japanese-ceramics.com/kawai-toru-%e6%b2%b3%e4%ba%95%e9%80%8f/

Kawai Hisashi 河井久
1942-2016
Shiga Prefecture

Trained in Kyoto under Kawai Kanjiro, his great uncle, and under Kawai Takekazu (Takeichi), his uncle. Opened kiln Sarukoden-gama, in Shigacho, Shiga Prefecture.
japanese-ceramics.com/kawai-hisashi-%e6%b2%b3%e4%ba%95%e4%b9%85/

Kawai Toshitaka 河井敏孝
1946-
Shigaraki, Shiga Prefecture

Kiln in Shigaraki, Shiga Prefecture.
Director of the Kawai Kanjiro Memorial Museum
japanese-ceramics.com/kawai-toshitaka-%e6%b2%b3%e4%ba%95%e6%95%8f%e5%ad%9d/

Kawai Kazuyoshi 河井一喜
1971-
Shiga Prefecture

Born in Kyoto City in 1971
After graduating from Ryukoku University Junior College, he studied pottery at the Kyoto Prefectural Pottery Technical College and the Kyoto Municipal Industrial Testing Institute at Happugama in Egenji-cho, Shiga Prefecture.
In April 1998, he started producing his own works at Sarukoda Kiln in Shiga Prefecture. In
1999, he held his first solo exhibition at Gion Konishi in Kyoto
. Since then, he has held solo exhibitions at department stores, Kyoto Yamato Mingei, etc.
2010: Japan Folk Crafts Museum Exhibition Encouragement Award
2011: Selected for the 21st Japan Ceramic Art Exhibition
2010: Selected for the National Exhibition

Kawai Sota 河井創太
1973-
Shigaraki, Shiga Prefecture

Born in Kyoto. Mingei master Kawai Kanjiro was his great-grandfather.
1996 Graduated from Kyoto Seika University, Faculty of Fine Arts, Department of Ceramics
1997 Graduated from Kyoto Prefectural Ceramics Training School
2002 Built a studio in Shigaraki, Shiga Prefecture
2004 Kobe Tanaka Art Exhibition
Matsuzakaya, Osaka, Japan, solo exhibition
2005 Kobe Tanaka Art Exhibition
Osaka Kintetsu Department Store, Abeno, Osaka, Japan, solo exhibition
Tokyo Keio Department Store, Kawai IV Exhibition
(Katojiro Kawai, Hiroji Kawai, Toshitaka Kawai, Sota Kawai)
Built his own climbing kiln
2006 Fujii Gallery, Ginza, Tokyo, solo exhibition
2007 Tokyo Toubi Art Fair, solo exhibition
Kobe Tanaka Art Exhibition
2008 Kawai IV Exhibition, Matsuya, Hiroshima
Mitsukoshi Nihombashi, Tokyo, solo exhibition
2009 Osaka Daibi Special Exhibition, Solo Exhibition

japanese-ceramics.com/kawai-sota-%e6%b2%b3%e4%ba%95%e5%89%b5%e5%a4%aa/

Kawai Tatsuyuki 河井達之
1974-
Shiga Prefecture

1974年京都市生まれ
1997年京都府立陶工高等技術専門校入学
1999年蒲生群標野窯勤務
鳥取県岩井窯山本教行氏に師事
2003年滋賀県猿子田窯にて作陶

1974 Born in Kyoto City
1997 Entered Kyoto Prefectural Technical College of Potters
1999 Worked at Gamo Gunjino Kiln
Studied under Yamamoto Noriyuki at Iwai Kiln in Tottori Prefecture
2003 Made pottery at Sarukoda Kiln in Shiga Prefecture

Other examples:

Yasuhiro Okuda 奥田康博
1920 - 1999
Ise, Mie Prefecture

Studied under Hamada Shoji and Kawai Kanjiro. After training in Tamba, he built a kiln in Yakutanezan, Ise City, and moved to the foot of Asama Mountain in 1971. Solo exhibitions at the Ise Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Hankyu Department Store. Mainly works with zaffer glaze. Judged at the Mie Prefectural Exhibition and the Ise City Exhibition.
japanese-ceramics.com/okudayasuhiro%e5%a5%a5%e7%94%b0%e5%ba%b7%e5%8d%9a/

Moriyama Masao 森山雅夫
1940-
Yunotsu, Shimane Prefecture

Born in Shimane Prefecture. Completed Tottori Vocational Training School. Studied under Kawai Kanjiro. Received the Gold Prize at the Prefectural Exhibition and the Newcomer’s Prize at the Kokuga-kai. Awarded an Honorable Mention at the Japan Folk Art Museum Exhibition. Selected for the Japan Ceramic Art Exhibition and others. He was Kanjiro Kawai's last apprentice

1940 Born in Asayama-cho, Oda City
1957 Graduated from Shimane Prefectural Vocational Guidance Center, Ceramic Department
1957 Became an apprentice under Kanjiro Kawai
1963 Trained under Seijiro Takeuchi of Kurashiki Tsutsumi Kiln
1969 Became independent at Tsubakigama in Yunotsu Town
First time selected for the Japan Folk Crafts Museum Exhibition
1971 Established Moriyama Kiln in its current location
1979 Selected for the first Japan Ceramic Art Exhibition (and subsequently selected many times)
1981 Received the Kokugakai Newcomer Award
1983 Winner of the Encouragement Award at the Japan Folk Crafts Museum Exhibition
1990 Received the Japan Folk Crafts Museum Exhibition Association Award
2004 Designated as a traditional craft of Shimane Prefecture

Eizo Hibiki 椋木英三 / Mukunoki Eizo / Mukunoki Shunsui
1942-
Toyooka, Hyogo Prefecture

Pen name is Mukunoki Sunsui. Born in Masuda City, Shimane Prefecture. Studied under Kawai Kanjiro, Takekazu and Hirotsugu in 1958. On November 18, 1966, on the death of Kanjiro, he entered into mourning. He resumed his work in 1968 and built a climbing kiln in 1974 in Toyooka City, Hyogo Prefecture. Selected for the Nihon Mingeikan Exhibition and the Japan Traditional Crafts Exhibition, among others. Solo exhibitions at Kyoto Daimaru and other venues. His works are mainly celadon, white porcelain, cinnabar, cinnabar, glaze and neriage.
japanese-ceramics.com/mukunoki-eizo-%E6%A4%8B%E6%9C%A8%E8%8B%B1%E4%B8%89/

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Takumi Miyazaki 宮﨑匠
1983-
Ceramics Yamajou やきもの山上 (ヤマジョウ)
Ina City, Nagano Prefecture

Takumi Miyazaki 宮﨑匠 (1983-), Ceramics Yamajou やきもの山上 (ヤマジョウ), Takato-cho, Ina City, Nagano Prefecture, Japan
www.instagram.com/yamajou__/
www.kouboukaranokaze.jp/d-voice/4011/
yamajou.stores.jp/about

信州の人里離れた山奥で、伝統的な手法を用い作陶しています。粘土は掘り出した高遠の赤土と信楽の白土を使い、釉薬は松や雑木、米の籾殻等を燃やした灰から作ります。蹴轆轤で成形し、地元伊那市の赤松の薪を燃料に薪窯で焼成しています。使いやすく丈夫で、気軽に毎日使え、飽きの来ない、健康的なやきものを目指していますやきもの山上宮﨑匠昭和58年生まれ高校卒業後京都府立陶工高等訓練校を修了河井透に師事 6年間の修行平成22年伊那市高遠町にて独立長野県民藝協会会員

Deep in the remote mountains of Shinshu, he creates pottery using traditional methods. He uses excavated red clay from Takato and white clay from Shigaraki, and the glaze is made from ashes from burning pine, miscellaneous trees, rice husks, etc. He shapes the pieces on a kick wheel and fires them in a wood-fired kiln using local red pine firewood from Ina City as fuel. He aims to create healthy pottery that is easy to use, durable, and timeless for everyday use.Yakimono Yamagami
Miyazaki Takumi Born in 1983. After graduating from high school, he completed the Kyoto Prefectural Potter's Technical Training School. He trained under Kawai Toru for six years. He became independent in Takato-cho, Ina City in 2010. He is a member of the Nagano Mingei Association.

Chinoko Sakamoto 坂本紬野子
1992-
Nagasaki, Nagasaki Prefecture

1992年生まれ。2016年イギリス、ロンドン芸術大学キャンバウェルカレッジオブアーツ彫刻科卒業。2018年帰国し現在は長崎を拠点に制作。大学在学中に陶芸をはじめ、集めたモチーフや形のインスピレーションを元に手びねりという技法で制作している。釉薬は自ら調合したものを使い、古さと新しさが混在する色とテクスチャーを求め日々実験を重ねている。

Born in 1992. Graduated from the Department of Sculpture at Camberwell College of Arts, University of the Arts London, UK in 2016. Returned to Japan in 2018 and is currently based in Nagasaki. He started pottery while at university, and creates works using the hand-building technique, drawing inspiration from motifs and shapes he has collected. He uses glazes that he mixes himself, and experiments daily in search of colors and textures that combine the old and the new.

Unattributed