ICHIROYA -Tour J Artisan-

Tour No.02 "Bizen Yaki in Okayama"

Artisan profile

Name : Hiroyuki Wakimoto

Technique : Bizen Ware

Location : Okayama Prefecture

Biography

1952 1975 1981 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2001 2002 2003 2004		Born in Tsushima (Nagasaki prefecture) Dropped out of Osaka University of Arts Became pupil of Bizen Potter Jouji Yamashita Built his own kiln at Osafune-cho Sue, and became independent Won the prize of 'Issuikai Exhibition' Won prizes of 'The 8th Chanoyu Design Exhibition' (The Tanabe Museum of Art) ,'The 2nd Ceramics Biennale ','The 38th Exhibition of Japanese Traditional Art Crafts','1991 Yakishime Pottery Public Subscription','The Issuikai Exhibition' Won prizes of 'The 9th Chanoyu Design Exhibition' (The Tanabe Museum of Art) ,'The 30th Asahi Ceramic Art Exhibition','The 38th Exhibition of Japanese Traditional Art Crafts','1991 Yakishime Pottery Public Subscription','The Issuikai Exhibition', First solo exhibition at Shinjuku Mitsukoshi Department Store Won prizes of 'The Encouraging Prize - The 3rd Ceramics Biennale','The 31st Asahi Ceramic Art Exhibition','The 36th Exhibition of Japanese Traditional Art Crafts Chugoku Branch' Invited to exhibit at 'Asahi Modern Craft Exhibition' Solo exhibition at Asuka Art Gallery (Okayama) Won prizes at 'The 11th Chanoyu Design Exhibition' (The Tanabe Museum of Art) Won the Grand Prize of '1994 Yakishime Pottery Public Subscription' Won prizes of 'The 12th Chanoyu Design Exhibition' (The Tanabe Museum of Art) ' 'The 13th Japan Ceramic Exhibition','The 42nd Exhibition of Japanese Traditional Art Crafts' Solo exhibition at Gallery Midorien (Okayama) Solo exhibition at Gallery Kochuten (Osaka) Won prizes of 'The 13th Chanoyu Design Exhibition' (The Tanabe Museum of Art) ' 'The 34th Asahi Ceramic Art Exhibition' Solo exhibition 'Shitekina Katachi (Private Design)' at Tenmaya Department store (Okayama) Won prizes of 'The 14th Chanoyu Design Exhibition' (The Tanabe Museum of Art) ' 'The 35th Asahi Ceramic Art Exhibition','The 44th Exhibition of Japanese Traditional Art Crafts' Joined the Japan Art Crafts Association society as a full member Won prizes of 'The 15th Chanoyu Design Exhibition' (The Tanabe Museum of Art) Won prizes of 'The 37th Asahi Ceramic Art Exhibition' Solo exhibition at Tenmaya Department Store (Hiroshima) Solo exhibition at Gallery Kou (Tokyo) Solo exhibition 'Inishie (Antiquity)' at Tenmaya Department Store ( Okayama) Solo exhibition at Tenmaya Alpark Department Store ( Hiroshima ) Solo exhibition at Gallery Midorien ( Okayama ) Solo exhibition at Bunkindo ( Gifu) Solo exhibition at Gallery Touching Stone ( Santafe, United States ) Museum International Folk Art (United States) bought his vase Solo exhibition at Ginza Kuroda Touen ( Tokyo ) Solo exhibition at Tanmaya Department Store ( Takamatsu ) Solo exhibition at Gallery Tsubuyaki ( Okayama) Solo exhibition at Gallery Touching Stone ( Santa Fe, United States ) Solo exhibition at Ginza Kuroda Touen ( Tokyo) Solo exhibition at Iwataya Department Store ( Fukuoka ) Solo exhibition at Tenmaya Department Store ( Fukuyama ) Invited to The First Santa Fe International Folk Art Market ( United States) Solo exhibition at Gallery Touching Stone ( Santa Fe, United States )

The origin of Bizen ware is Sue-ki, primitive unglazed stone ware. My kiln is in the 'Sue', where is the home town of Bizen ware. During the long history smoke of kilns never ceases.
Bizen pottery never changes it's essence of 'unglazed stone ware', but artisans there also have continued to create and innovate its technique and design. It is the evidence of how passionately people have loved Bizen ware throughout the ages. Litterateurs, chirographers and masters of ceremonial tea especially have loved its simple clay flavor, various natural colors and 'sabi'( quiet simplicity) atmosphere.

Technique detail