Tamura Kōichi

Tamura Koichi, throughout his long career, demonstrated a mastery of wheel throwing, glazing and firing techniques.  Since childhood, he showed a talent for drawing and assisted his father, a third generation doll maker.  It was a seminal visit to the mingei (folk art) potters Hamada Shoji and Sakuma Totaro in nearby Mashiko that drew him to the field of ceramics.

Initially his works showed the influence of Hamada, but quickly he became known for iron-glazed works that featured reddish-brown, persimmon glazed wax-resist designs against a black ground. A further innovation was his application of brushed white hakeme glaze beneath his iron-oxide patterning. Later on, he further augmented these designs with copper red and lastly experimented with a celadon green glaze ground. His work is characterized by strong brushwork and lyrical, asymmetrical designs. He was designated in 1986 as the Living National Treasure for tetsu-e techniques (iron-glazed patterned ceramics).

1918 Born in Sano, Tochigi prefecture
1941 Graduated from the Department of Crafts, National University of Fine Arts
1946 Started training under the direction of Tomimoto Kenkichi
1953 Establish the kiln in Sano, Tochigi prefecture
1961 Became a member of Shinshô kai (New Craftart Master Association)
1962 Became a member of Nihon Ceramic Association
Installed ceramic wall at Sano City Hall
1967 Named associate professor at National University of Fine Arts and Music,
Tokyo
1971 Invited to the 1st Mainichi Nihon Ceramic Exhibition (then, annually)
1977 Became professor at National University of Fine Arts and Music,
1980 Elected vice-president of Nihon Crafts Association
1986 Designated as Living National Treasure
Named professor emeritus at Named associate professor at National University of Fine Arts and Music, Tokyo
Installed ceramic wall at Utsunomiya City Hall
1987 Died at the age of 68

Awards:

1948 Awarded the Tochigi Prefectural Art Festival Prize
1956 Asahi Newspaper Prize and Matsuzakaya Prize at the Japan Contemporary Ceramics Exhibition (then, annually accepted until 1962)
1957 Won the Nihon Ceramic Association Prize at the Nihon Ceramic Association Award
1958 Asahi Newspaper Prize at the Japan Contemporary Ceramics Exhibition
1960 Awarded the Encouraging Prize at the Nihon Traditional Crafts Exhibition (then, annually accepted and awarded)
1961 Awarded the Tomimoto Kenkichi Prize at the 16th Shinsho-kai Exhibition
1967 Golden Prize at the Istanbul International Ceramic Art Exhibition
1970 Awarded Cultural Medal from Tochigi Prefecture
1976 Gold Prize at the Nihon Ceramic Association Award
1979 Received Blue Ribbon Medal from the Government
1983 Received a Purple Ribbon Medal from the Government
1987 Awarded The Order of the Sacred Treasure Medal from the Government

Select Collections:

Brooklyn Museum, NY
Hagi Urakami Museum, Hagi
Hikarigaoka Museum of Art, Tokyo
Kanô Museum of Art, Yasuki
Minneapolis Institute of Arts, MN
Musée national de la porcelain Adrien-Dubouché, Limoges FR
Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, MA
National Museum of Modern Art, Kyoto
National Museum of Modern Art, Tokyo
Sano Tôseki Art Museum, Sano
Tamura Koichi Museum, Sano
Tochigi Prefectural Museum of Fine Art, Utsunomiya
The University Art Museum, Tokyo University of the Arts
University of Michigan Museum of Art, MI
Yale University Art Gallery, CT
Yoshizawa Memorial Museum of Art, Sano