en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shigaraki_ware
Visit to Shigaraki, Japan

See also:
Tamba ware
​Agano ware
Oribe ware

---

Unattributed Shigaraki ware

---

​Minagawa Takashi 皆川隆
1930-

Minagawa Takashi 皆川隆, Tsuchinoko Kiln 土の子窯, Shigaraki ware, Shigaraki city, Shiga Prefecture, Japan.

Note that a Tsuchinoko is a famous Japanese cryptid / yokai.  It's a fat snake-like creature that is often the target of hunts to prove its existence (featured in anime like Mob Psycho 100 and Pokemon (Dunsparce))
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tsuchinoko

土の子窯 信楽神山の大きな登窯の側に穴窯を築いた時、土の子窯と命 名しました。この辺りはまむしの出る山で、古老は「御八寸」 と呼ばれる所謂「槌の子」がいると言います。松薪で焼き める素朴な信楽の伝統を守る窯に「土の子」はいかにもふさ わしい名だと思います。 皆川君は信楽に生れ育ち、約二十年間、近江化学の登窯の焼 師として勤務しました。十年前から専門に勉強していたろく ろの技術を生かして伝統的な信楽焼の茶器、食器作りに没頭 しています。従来登窯と穴窯を交互にたいていますが、登窯 の焼成では既にベテランである同君がそれに飽きたらず穴窯 の味の深さに魅せられて歩止りの悪さに苦しめられ乍ら穴窯 の茶器、食器に専念しています。 展覧会 昭和四十九年四月 〃 五十年十一月 〃 五十二年六月 常時陳列 東京新宿 名古屋 土の子窯 工 房 伊勢丹美術部 丸栄美術部 日本陶磁協会理事 小 森 松菴 銀座黒田陶苑 新大久保 益田屋画廊 新 宿伊勢丹画廊 滋賀県甲賀郡信楽町神山 滋賀県甲賀郡信楽町長野 (責任者) 皆 川 TEL(〇七四八八)―ニー〇六七一 隆 Tsuchinoko Kiln When we built an anagama kiln next to the big climbing kiln in Shigaraki Kamiyama, we named it Tsuchinoko Kiln. This is a mountain where vipers come from, and the elders say that there is a so-called "hammer child" called "Gohachisun". I think "Tsuchinoko" is a very appropriate name for a kiln that preserves the simple Shigaraki tradition of firing with pine firewood. Minagawa was born and raised in Shigaraki, and worked as a firing master at Omi Chemical's climbing kiln for about 20 years. He has been devoting himself to making traditional Shigaraki tea utensils and tableware, making use of the potter's wheel technique that he specialized in studying for the past 10 years. Traditionally, we alternate between climbing kilns and anagama kilns, but even though he is already a veteran in climbing kiln firing, he is not bored with that and is fascinated by the depth of flavor of the anagama kiln, and is concentrating on anagama tea utensils and tableware, despite the low yield. Exhibition April 1974, November 1975, June 1977 Permanent display Tokyo Shinjuku Nagoya Tsuchinoco Kiln Workshop Isetan Art Department Maruei Art Department Director of the Japan Ceramic Association Komori Shoan Ginza Kuroda Touen Shin-Okubo Masudaya Gallery Shin-Yado Isetan Gallery Shiga Prefecture Koga-gun Shigaraki-cho Kamiyama Shiga Prefecture Koga-gun Shigaraki-cho Nagano (Person in charge) Mina Kawa TEL(07488)-0671 Takashi

From Shigaraki. Started Tsuchinoko kiln. Uses ascending kilns and cellar kilns for firing. Studied under Komori Shoan. Mainly engaged in private exhibitions and held private exhibitions at Kuroda Toen in Ginza, the Masudaya in Shin-Okubo, the Isetan in Shinjuku, the Mitsukoshi in Osaka, the Maruei in Nagoya, and the Fukuya in Hiroshima.
​japan-antiques.jp/wp/minagawa-takashi-%e7%9a%86%e5%b7%9d%e9%9a%86/

---

Takahashi Rakusai 4th 四代 高橋楽斎
​1925-

In 1975, he assumed the name Rakusai IV. Studied under his father Rakusai III. Has taught ceramics at the University of Southern California. Solo exhibitions at Nihonbashi Mitsukoshi, Takashimaya, Kobe Sogo, etc.
japan-antiques.jp/wp/takahashi-raksai-iv-%e9%ab%98%e6%a9%8b%e6%a5%bd%e6%96%8e-4%e4%bb%a3/

---

Shinbei
​​Momoyama Period

Museum examples

LACMA

---

Unattributed Shigaraki ware
​Momoyama Period

Museum examples

LACMA

Tokyo National Museum

---

---

Tanuki