Shoji Hamada
Encyclopedia
was a Japanese
potter. He was a significant influence on studio pottery of the twentieth century, and a major figure of the mingei
folk-art movement, establishing the town of Mashiko
as a world-renowned pottery centre.
He studied ceramic
s at Tokyo Institute of Technology
under Kawai Kanijirō. Soon after, he met Bernard Leach
with whom he travelled to England
in 1920. Having spent three years in St Ives
with Bernard Leach he returned to Japan in 1923 and eventually established his workshop in Mashiko, about 100 km north-east of Tokyo.
In 1955 the Japanese government designated him a "Living National Treasure
".
Hamada Shoji was very supportive of young artists who moved to Mashiko such as his student Shimaoka Tatsuzo
, and Kamoda Shoji, and was also important in establishing Mashiko as a destination for day tourism.
Hamada died in Mashiko on January 5, 1978.
Today Hamada’s works are greatly sought after and attain high prices at auction.
Hamada is the subject of an out-of-print VHS video titled "Shoji Hamada – A Potter’s Way & Work." The video was authored and produced by noted ceramics scholar Susan H. Peterson. It follows Hamada as he and his assistants throw, glaze and fire a large batch of pots on his seven-acre estate, in outdoor, wood-fired kilns.
Japanese people
The are an ethnic group originating in the Japanese archipelago and are the predominant ethnic group of Japan. Worldwide, approximately 130 million people are of Japanese descent; of these, approximately 127 million are residents of Japan. People of Japanese ancestry who live in other countries...
potter. He was a significant influence on studio pottery of the twentieth century, and a major figure of the mingei
Mingei
', the Japanese folk art movement, was developed in the late 1920s and 1930s in Japan. Its founding father was Yanagi Sōetsu .-Origins:In 1916, Yanagi made his first trip to Korea out of a curiosity for Korean crafts...
folk-art movement, establishing the town of Mashiko
Mashiko, Tochigi
is a town located in Haga District, Tochigi, Japan. As of October 1, 2009, the town has an estimated population of 24,760 and a density of 277 persons per km². The total area is 89.54 km².-Culture:...
as a world-renowned pottery centre.
Biography
Hamada was born in Tokyo, Japan in 1894.He studied ceramic
Ceramic
A ceramic is an inorganic, nonmetallic solid prepared by the action of heat and subsequent cooling. Ceramic materials may have a crystalline or partly crystalline structure, or may be amorphous...
s at Tokyo Institute of Technology
Tokyo Institute of Technology
The Tokyo Institute of Technology is a public research university located in Greater Tokyo Area, Japan. Tokyo Tech is the largest institution for higher education in Japan dedicated to science and technology. Tokyo Tech enrolled 4,850 undergaraduates and 5006 graduate students for 2009-2010...
under Kawai Kanijirō. Soon after, he met Bernard Leach
Bernard Leach
Bernard Howell Leach, CBE, CH , was a British studio potter and art teacher. He is regarded as the "Father of British studio pottery"-Biography:...
with whom he travelled to England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
in 1920. Having spent three years in St Ives
St Ives, Cornwall
St Ives is a seaside town, civil parish and port in Cornwall, England, United Kingdom. The town lies north of Penzance and west of Camborne on the coast of the Celtic Sea. In former times it was commercially dependent on fishing. The decline in fishing, however, caused a shift in commercial...
with Bernard Leach he returned to Japan in 1923 and eventually established his workshop in Mashiko, about 100 km north-east of Tokyo.
In 1955 the Japanese government designated him a "Living National Treasure
Living National Treasure (Japan)
is a Japanese popular term for those individuals certified as by the Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology as based on Japan's...
".
Hamada Shoji was very supportive of young artists who moved to Mashiko such as his student Shimaoka Tatsuzo
Tatsuzo Shimaoka
was a Japanese mingei potter who studied under Hamada Shoji and later became the second Living National Treasure of Mashiko, Japan. He was best known for his unique Jōmon zogan style of pottery, and was a master of many slip decorating and firing techniques for pottery...
, and Kamoda Shoji, and was also important in establishing Mashiko as a destination for day tourism.
Hamada died in Mashiko on January 5, 1978.
Influence
Throughout a lifetime dedicated to making pottery he achieved international recognition and his works have been collected by museums across the world. Hamada influence was felt not only in his native Japan, particularly in Mashiko, but also in the West. In the United Kingdom and the USA his style and philosophy became well known amongst studio potters, and he was revered as the archetypal "Oriental" potter. In 1955 he was designated a “Living National Treasure”.Hamada is the subject of an out-of-print VHS video titled "Shoji Hamada – A Potter’s Way & Work." The video was authored and produced by noted ceramics scholar Susan H. Peterson. It follows Hamada as he and his assistants throw, glaze and fire a large batch of pots on his seven-acre estate, in outdoor, wood-fired kilns.