Hitoshi Morimoto

森本仁

Ceramic Artist • 1976 –

A ceramic artist living in Bizen. After studying sculpture at university, Hitoshi studied under Seiya Toyoba in Gifu Prefecture. In addition to Bizen ware fired in a climbing kiln built by his father, he creates vessels that fit into modern life by utilizing the unique characteristics of his materials, such as his original Shirahana (literally, “white flower”) work, made of Bizen clay fired in a kerosene kiln, and glazed works in ash, black, and Kiseto glazes based on his experience studying Mino ware.

BASED IN

Bizen, Okayama Prefecture

WEB SITE

hitoshimorimoto.com

POINT OF VIEW

Hitoshi spends his days arranging wild flowers picked from nature, enjoying the art of tea, and working earnestly on his creations. The artist’s thoughtful lifestyle of caring for the nature around him is the source of his approach to searching for the essence of beauty. His works, combining remarkable sophistication with gentle comfort and filled with his rich sensibility in every last detail, continue to attract people.

CRAFT ARTIST BIOGRAPHY

1976: Born in Bizen, Okayama Prefecture
1999: After graduating from the sculpture department at Tokyo Zokei University, studied Mino pottery under Seiya Toyoba
2003: Began making pottery in Bizen, Okayama Prefecture
2011: Began participating in solo and group exhibits in various locations

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INSIGHTS

"Six Ancient Kilns"

Editor's Column "Craft Production Regions" VOL.1

In Japan, crafts such as ceramics, lacquerware, textiles, wood and bamboo products, and metalwork are produced in many different locations across the country, and each region has its own unique style of craftsmanship. For example, within Japanese ceramics, Karatsu ware from Kyushu and Ohori-soma ware from the northeastern Tohoku region differ greatly in terms of their materials and color expressio...

KOGEI STANDARD Aug 12, 2022

RESOURCE

Nobori-gama (Climbing kiln)
- Generic term
A kiln that is built on a hill or other slope and has a structure designed to make use of the slope to increase the temperatures in the kiln. In a narrower sense, it refers to a kiln with several firing chambers in succession on a slope; this is known as a “renbo-shiki nobori-gama,” or multi-chambered climbing kiln.
Yakishime (Unglazed stoneware)
- Classification
Forming clay and letting it dry before firing at high temperature as much as 1100~1400 degree Celcius without biscuit firing or glazes.
Six Ancient Kilns
- Generic term
A collective name for six distinctive ancient kilns in Japan, which have been famous for their pottery from medieval times to the present day. These include kilns in the Seto, Tokoname, Shigaraki, Echizen, Tanba-Tachikui and Bizen regions.
Mino ware
- Generic term
A general term for ceramics fired in the Tono region of Gifu Prefecture. A wide variety of types exist, with four major representative styles – Ki-Seto, Seto-guro, Shino, and Oribe – together called Mino-Momoyama ware. As time went on, the production of finer porcelain also flourished. Even today, Gifu Prefecture is still the largest producer of ceramics in Japan, producing about half of the country’s ceramics.
Bizen ware
- Generic term
Stoneware made mainly in Imbe area in Bizen City, Okayama Prefecture. One of the six ancient kilns in Japan. Characterized by high temperature firing without using glazes and various expressions brought about by transformation.

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Hitoshi Morimoto

POINT OF VIEW

CRAFT ARTIST BIOGRAPHY

Bizen Tokkuri Sake Flask

"Six Ancient Kilns"