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Bizen Kiln Markings - Kamajirushi

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Bizen Kiln Markings and Bizen Past Greats
Kamajirushi are the small markings on pots which identify them to a potter or a production kiln. Almost all craftsman and independent potters, past and present, have a certain stamp or incision that marks the piece as theirs. Some mingei traditions didn't make usage of kamajirushi for they wanted the pots to speak of their makers spirit; the pot being the 'signature.' The most recent and famous example of a non-kamajirushi potter might be that of
Hamada Shoji.

The first list shows the kamajirushi of some of Bizen's most popular production kilns and the kiln's name. Note: kama (kiln) is read as gama after the name. Tou means a place where people gather and En is a place where 'literary' people gather. The second list shows the kamajirushi of some of Japan's past great Bizen potters.

PRODUCTION KILNS

KILN NAME

KAMAJIRUSHI

KILN NAME

KAMAJIRUSHI

Bishuu-gama

Bishuu-gama

Nanzan-gama

Bizen Tougei Nanzan-gama

Bizen Touen

Bizen Touen

Onigashou-gama

Onigashou-gama

Gorobe-gama

Gorobe-gama

Sanrouku-gama

Senrouku-gama

Houkou-gama

Houkou-gama

Santen-gama

Santen-gama

Ichiyou-gama

Ichiyou-gama

Shibaoka Tousendou

Shibaoka Tousendou

Ippon-matsu-gama

Ippon-matsu-gama

Shouzan-gama

Shouzan-gama 

Kamamoto Bizen Ichi

Kamamoto Bizen Ichi

Shunkoen

Shunkoen

Kaneshige Ritouen

Kaneshige Ritouen

Shouen

Shouen

Kawaguchi Tourakuen

Kawaguchi Tourakuen

Taizan-gama

Taizan-gama

Keishuu-gama

Keishuu-gama

Touhaku-gama

Touhaku-gama

Kimura Kourakuen

Kimura Kourakuen

Toukedou

Toukedou

Konishi Toukou

Konishi Toukou

Toushouen

Toushouen

Kouraku-gama

Kouraku-gama

 

 



POTTER LIST - BIZEN PAST GREATS
Some were named Living National Treasures
Click here to jump to the Living National Treasures page

POTTER/KAMAJIRUSHI/AWARDS

POTTER/KAMAJIRUSHI/AWARDS

Fujita Ryuho
1913-1973
Fujita Ryuho
Okayama Prefectural
Intangible Cultural Property 1954

Kaneshige Toyo
1896-1967
Kaneshige Toyo
Okayama Prefectural
Intangible Cultural Property 1954;
Living National Treasure 1956

Fujiwara Kei
1899-1983
Fujiwara Kei
Okayama Prefectural
Intangible Cultural Property 1954;
Living National Treasure 1970

Konishi Toko I
1899-1954
Konishi Toko I

Fujiwara Ken
1924-1977
Fujiwara Ken
Okayama Prefectural
Intangible Cultural Property 1954

Matsuda Kazan I
1902-1948
Matsuda Kazan I

Fujiwara Rakuzan
1910-1996
Fujiwara Rakuzan
Okayama Prefectural
Intangible Cultural Property 1954

Mimura Tokei
1885-1956
Mimura Tokei
Okayama Prefectural
Intangible Cultural Property 1954

Isezaki Yozan
1902-1961
Isezaki Yozan
Okayama Prefectural
Intangible Cultural Property 1954

Nishimura Shunko
1886-1953
Nishimura Shunko

Ishii Furo
1899-1964
Ishii Furo
Okayama-ken Prefectural
Intangible Cultural Property 1964

Oae Jindo
1890-1954
Oae Jindo
NA - Okayama-ken Prefectural
Intangible Cultural Property

Kaneshige Michiaki
1934-1995
Kaneshige Michiaki
NA - Okayama-ken Prefectural
Intangible Cultural Property

Suzuki Osai
1908-1972
Suzuki Osai

Kaneshige Sozan
1909-1995
Kaneshige Sozan
NA - Okayama-ken Prefectural
Intangible Cultural Property

Yamamoto Toshu
1906-1994
Yamamoto Toshu
Okayama Prefectural
Intangible Cultural Property 1954;
Living National Treasure 1987


There are whole books devoted to kamajirushi for individual potters such as Kogei Shuppan's Gendai no Tougei East and West and others showing the thousands of marks which have been used throughout the centuries here. A good resource of kamajirushi is essential for any collector or scholar of Japanese pottery.

On some auction sites on the Internet I often come across wares showing the kamajirushi, most notably Bizen wares from production kilns. The kilns always have a shop and there are dozens of omiyage (souvenir) shops within a stones throw of Imbe station - Imbe is a part of Bizen city. For the most part they produce cheap uninspired works that are basically intended for the crowds of weekend tourists. Some do make nice things but for the majority it's a turn-the-product-out attitude. No heart and soul - only the sounds of cash registers. Quite a few of these pieces find their ways overseas.

Other Kamajirushi
Karatsu Kiln Markings
Seto Kiln Markings

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