Unlike most other wares that usually focus on either pottery (Mashiko ware) or porcelain (Arita ware), Seto ware is extremely broad and encompasses both well known pottery styles (particularly the Horse-Eye Plates favored by Mingei style enthusiasts) and lesser known porcelain styles (Seto celadon porcelain is often misattributed as Chinese, and Seto blue and white porcelain is often misattributed as Arita ware). Because of it's prevalence, in Japan the generic term for pottery is Setomono.
Cloisonné ware ceramist. He worked with Suzuki Seiichiro and Tsukamoto Jinuemon at the Dai Nippon Shippo Company(now the Ando Cloisonné Company), established in Nagoya in 1871, as the central figures producing cloisonné ware at the time. At the Centennial Exposition in 1876, and the first and second National Industrial Exhibitions in 1877 and 1881, he was recognized for his extraordinary skills and continued to submit his works under the Dai Nippon Shippo Company, Yokohama Tashiro Shoten Ltd. names as well as under his own, and was widely praised both in Japan and abroad. He created a piece of what he called Ishima ware in 1887, and received a patent for it in 1889. japanese-ceramics.com/takeuchi-chubei-%E7%AB%B9%E5%86%85%E5%BF%A0%E5%85%B5%E8%A1%9B/
Kato Shunko 春光
Kato Shunko was an ardent student of pottery techniques and traditions originating beyond Japan. Around 1875 he established a pottery in Seto, Aichi Prefecture and started to export Seto ware around 1881-1882. He worked assiduously to expand his business to become Seto's largest factory, providing Morimura-gumi with both clay and unfired pottery blanks. He also had its own "Shunko" brand porcelain. His porcelain works are noted for their thinness and beautiful shapes. Later his wares began to be sold by the Morimura Group, which ultimately established Noritake. Thus, his wares are so-called "pre-Nippon", early examples of Japanese ware for Western markets and are sometimes grouped with "Old Noritake", though actually pre-dating Noritake. Kato is the family name, Shunko is the given name. 春光製 (Shunko sei (made by Shunko))
Kato Sakusuke 加藤作助 1808-1893
Real name Sakube. Born into Owari Akatsu’s family of potters, he took over the family business as Kato Kagekiyo and was known for producing both Japanese and Western ceramics for daily use such as sake sets and tea sets. Renamed Sakusuke in his later years. Primarily focused on Furutabe and Kizeto studied by each generation of his family, specializing in tea-ware. japan-antiques.jp/wp/kato-sakusuke-%e5%8a%a0%e8%97%a4%e4%bd%9c%e5%8a%a9/
Kato Usuke 加藤宇助 1915-1981
Kato Usuke, a potter of Seto and Akazu ware, was born in 1915 as the son of Usaburo the 20th. With his ancestor being the second son of the father of Seto ware, Kato Kagemasa Second Generation Toshiro Motomichi, Fuji Saemon as the first generation, he takes his name Usuke from the 17th Generation Keitoku Jinzo. His teaware products include koseto, setoguro, shino, and oribe among others, and there are many excellent products that could easily fit in with ancient works. Usuke’s works are engraved with his signature, “う(U)”. He has held solo exhibitions in various parts of Japan, in Los Angeles, and in Czechoslovakia his works are highly regarded, with some of them even being considered works that will be permanently preserved.Since Kato Usuke is considered the best potter for Seto, he has received many requests to make imitations from the Kamakura period. In 1959, a vase with the inscription “Einin 2” (1294) was discovered, and it was designated as one of Japan’s Important Cultural Properties as a koseto masterpiece from the Kamakura period. However, it was discovered that this work was a contemporary one by the potter, Kato Tokuro (1896-1985), and two years later it had its status as an Important Cultural Property revoked. It was a scandal involving the Art History Society, the Ancient Art Society, and the Administration for Cultural Property Protection, where the cultural official who recommended its designation as an Important Cultural Property took responsibility and resigned. https://japanese-ceramics.com/kato-usuke-%e5%8a%a0%e8%97%a4%e5%ae%87%e5%8a%a9/ https://chano-yu.com/famous-japanese-potters-and-marks/#kato-usuke