Town Profile

Our Town: Potters

Kazushige Morimoto

Pottery by Kazushige Morimoto
Plate (right)
Inspired by the break of dawn on the Uwa Sea
Crystal lacquered vase (middle)
This crane-necked flower vase uses a special black crystal lacquer unique to Kazushige Morimoto's Jōzan Studio.
Jar (left)
Inspired by the two seas that surround Ikata Town (Tobe white porcelain)

Kazushige Morimoto was born on April 23, 1929 in Kuchō, Ikata. He currently lives in the town of Tobe, north of Ikata.

The faint indigo pattern sketched into white porcelain. The pleasant heft when you pick it up. The brilliance of simplicity; that is the Tobe-yaki pottery tradition.

When Kazushige was a boy he was not much interested in singing and dancing, but he loved to draw. Wanting to somehow make use of this skill, he entered the National Ceramics Testing Center in 1950. This was his first encounter with Tobe-yaki.

We are proud to offer for display three of his works: "Whirling tide" (jar, white porcelain), "Flight" (crane-necked vase, black crystal lacquer), "Daybreak" (plate, copper lacquer).

The jar was inspired by the two seas that surround Ikata (the Uwa and Seto seas), and the plate was inspired by the Uwa Sea at daybreak. The vase uses a special black crystal lacquer unique to Kazushige's Jōzan Pottery Studio. Compared to traditional white porcelain this lacquer is more sensitive to changes in climate and temperature, and is apparently harder to work with. For this reason, Morimoto's work in this lacquer receives special attention to craft and detail.

Kazushige loves nature, often using themes such as "whirling tides" and "Mt. Ishizuchi". He has special affection for the ocean and moutains of his childhood home, Ikata Town.

Today Kazushige works as a pottery teacher in the prefectural Lifelong Learning program.

Every year on April 23, Tobe holds a Pottery Festival honoring Jōsuke Sugino, the father of the Tobe-yaki style of pottery.

Kazushige was born on April 23; perhaps he was fated to become a pottery legend.

Profile

Seihō Morimoto

Works by Seihō Morimoto

Seihō Morimoto was born in Kuchō, Ikata. He currently runs an independent studio in Gohonmatsu, Tobe.

Here is a piece written by Seihō about his own work.

"I make my figurines by hand with the skills and rich traditions of Tobe-yaki pottery. Perhaps because I was born on March 3, 1928, when I hold clay in my palm, a shape naturally flows out of my fingers, and I get a mysterious feeling, as if I was given life simply for the purpose of making dolls. The deep red burning fire of the kiln breathes life into the dolls, and in that instant I feel both irresistable love and the deep joy of living.

I will continue to devote myself to my life's work, treasuring the relationships I forge through my dolls."

Profile
Birthplace
Kuchō, Ikata in March 3, 1928
1950
Moved to Tobe
1951
Founded Yatori Studio in Yakura with Hoshiki Nomoto
1962
Founded independent Seihō Studio in Gohonmatsu
Currently
Lives in Tobe, Ehime prefecture

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