Perhaps because of its proximity (or lack thereof) to central Japan, the beautiful lacquer wares of Akita may be lesser known than other regions. Here is an exquisite sake cup and katakuchi serer of turned wood covered in multiple layers of soft, black lacquer by Sato Fumiyuki of the Kawatsura lacquer tradition. A belt of gilded binding wrapping the body is the only decoration...

A quintessential work showing the decorative aesthetic of Ichino Masahiko enclosed in the original signed wooden box titled Senmon Tokkuri. It is 13.3 cm (just over 5 inches) tall and in excellent condition.
The youngest winner ever at the 13th National Ceramic Exhibition (Nihon Togeiten), Ichino Hiroyuki is a powerhouse in Tamba, bringing that long forgotten corner of Japan’s ceramic realm back into the limelight...

A spectacular tea bowl by Kato Yasukage XIV enclosed in the original signed wooden box titled Oribe Chawan and signed 14th Yasukage. The smoothly undulating rim floats above the faceted sides, like acloud over the precipitous crags of Gifu prefecture, home of Oribe-ware. To accentuate the random vein which carries the lifeblood of Japanese pottery, fortuitous flashes of yellow and blue with rich irons flare on the surface like acts of nature...

A morphic vessel of rough outer form like a fossilized egg or bowl of coral covered from the rim within by slick blue, a quintessential work by Tanoue Shinya enclosed in the original signed wooden box titled Kara-wan Ao (Empty Shell, Blue). It has a wide, rounded form which is surprisisngly pleasant to hold, and the smooth blue decorating the rim is pleasing to the lips. The shape allows for a very stable silhouette, which seems to anchor itself to whatever surface it rests upon...

A beautiful pure white porcelain tea bowl by Niisato Akio enclosed in the original signed wooden box titled Hikari Wan . The technique called Hikari ( Light),through small “windows” like a fireflies, the expression of the vessel changes under lights at each moment and it is wonderful. Perfect for use in the Japanese Tea Ceremony in the summer...

A beautiful hanging vase covered with translucent green by Yamaguchi Makoto enclosed in the original signed wooden box titled Oribe Kake-hanaire.
Size, D 8.9 cm H 19.9 cm
Condition, Excellent
A rising star in the pottery world, Yamaguchi Makoto was born in Seto, Aichi prefecture in 1978. In 2000 he was apprenticed to Hiroshige Kato (Kasen Toen)...

Faint crackling permeates the vibrant green glaze on this sake flask by Living National Treasure Nakajima Hiroshi enclosed in the original signed wooden box titled simply Tokkuri. It is 12.5 cm tall, and in excellent condition.
Nakajima Hiroshi (1941-2018) was born in Hiroshima, and established himself as an independent potter Yano, Saga Prefecture in 1969, choosing to specialize in the challenging field of Celadon ware...

An example of some of the finest porcelain modern Japan has to offer. According to the Wakao Kei, the artist who crafted this piece, it took him years of trial and error to perfect these stunning translucent glazes and associated techniques such as getting the right flowing consistency and pooling effect around the base...

Enigmatic natural forms seem fossilized on the white surface of this rare guinomi by female pottery star Hattori Makiko enclosed in a black lidded wooden box signed and dated inside Heisei 27 (2015) and titled simply Shuki. It is 7.5 cm (3 inches) diameter and in excellent condition. This was from way back when we could acquire works by her. Those days are long gone, and this is the last of its kind.
Hattori Makiko was born in Aichi prefecture in 1984...

Delicate pink and blue fan-shapes like the scales on some iridescent tropical fish or feathers on an exotic bird rise in an overlapping pattern to form this open flower receptacle by Kusaba Yuji enclosed in the original signed wooden box. Neriage is well known in Northern Japan thanks to living National Teasure Matsui Kosei who worked in colored clay, however it is unheard of in Southern Japan, and in this case, made of colored porcelain...

Blue, yellow, white, red and gold decorated the green "reptilian skin" Oribe glazed body of this Contemporary sake set by Ujiie Kodai , enclosed in their original signed wooden boxes, dating to 2022.This is a handful, great tactile qualities and entrancing to look at.
Size, Tokkuri D 11.4 cm H 21.1 cm
Size, Guinomi D 8.1 cm H 7.1 cm
Condition, Excellent
Ujiie Kodai, a rising star in the word of pottery, was born in Sendai in 1990...

Tatsuzo Shimaoka (1919-2007) Square Bottle Vase with iconic Aka-e Designs

With tall rectangular sides, decorated with impressed rope patterns inlaid in slip and with Aka-e designs.
It is rare to see Shimaoka bottle with such design which he mainly applied for tea ware.

Tatsuzo Shimaoka was a Japanese mingei potter who studied under Shōji Hamada and later became the second Living National Treasure of Mashiko, Japan.
He was best known for his unique Jōmon zogan ...

For Celadon aficionado Kato Tsubusa is like the jewel in the crown, a centerpiece so unusual and outstanding, and this vase is a particularly rare gem, enclosed in the original signed wooden box titled understatedly Hanaire.
Size, D 21.7 cm H 36.7 cm
Condition, Excellent
Kato Tsubusa was born in the home of Shino, Tajimi city. However after working some in pottery, he moved on to white porcelain, a leap from which he has never looked back...

Kenji Funaki (b. 1927) White Glaze Chawan (tea bowl) Studio Pottery
Elegant shape in the style of fine Joseon dynasty bowls covered with white glaze.

Kenji Funaki is known for his participation in the Mingei Movement led by Yanagi Soetsu and Kawai Kanjiro.
He studied under Hamada Shoji and Bernard Leach...

This vivid Mino Iga tea bowl is made by renowned Japanese ceramist Yaemon Kato (b.1942)
The mark of the potter is carved near the foot ring.

Yaemon Kato, a third son of Juemon Kato (1894-1974), continued his father's efforts to revive and restore Mino ceramic art working on Shino, Kiseto, Oribe, Mino Iga, etc.

Size
Height 8 cm
Width 11.5 cm

In excellent condition with original box (no cord) and leaflet.

Satoru Omae (b. 1972) Black and White Guinomi (sake cup) in the style of legendary "Fuji San" Bowl

Excellent sake ware version of "Fuji San" bowl, one of the most famous chawan of all times made by Honami Koetsu in Momoyama Period (1568-1600) which is currently located in Sanritsu Hattori Museum.

Oomae Satoru
1972 Born in Osaka
1991 Began making ceramics in Kobe
1994 Began collecting clay and firing in high-fired unglazed Nanban style
1999 First solo e...

A virtual textbook on Yohen firing effects on this fantastic sculptured vase by the outlandish Yoshitaka Hasu enclosed in the original signed wooden box titled Yohen Kaki. A frenzied stack of rugged corners like the fallen away sides of a mountain revealing the earth’s structure beneath a layer of green. It is likely Hasu san is inspired by the brawny, rain drenched and forested mountains surrounding the town of Iga, where the Mountains formed a natural line of defense for the secret clans of...

A gorgeous Mimitsuki handled vase with flaring rim covered in in running ash glaze and encrustations of dark embers by Tanimoto Yo enclosed in the original signed wooden box titled Iga Hana-ire. It is 26 cm (10-1/4 inches) tall and in excellent condition. This is a superb example of the traditional Momoyama aesthetic.
Born in 1958 the son of Iga potter Tanimoto Kosei, Yo was raised among the kilns and has always had his hands in clay. He first began exhibiting in 1982, and in 1984 move...