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JUMP TO LNT PHOTO TOUR Living National Treasures (as of August 2005) The designation of certain potters as Important Intangible Cultural Properties, more commonly known as Living National Treasures, began in 1955. In the beginning it honored potters who were greatly responsible for revitalizing traditions. This first batch of potters were truly deserving of the designation. Their respective styles and the success of those working in those styles today owe almost everything to these grand potters; Arakawa, Kaneshige, and Miwa to name a few. Of course, there were potters who never received the award or a few who politely refused -- Kawai Kanjiro, Rosanjin, and Kato Tokuro come to mind. As time went on many of the first LNT's apprentices became the next batch of LNT and the selection process got political -- not based on merit alone. I propose that the system be put on hold for a few years so that the true meaning of a LNT comes into clay again. For as important as tradition is, it's not something that is selected in governmental offices like it is today -- the traditions, like Bizen, are just put on hold. The late Bizen potter Kaneshige Michiaki (1934-1995) said of tradition:  Tradition is sometimes confused with transmission. Copying Momoyama pieces is transmission. Producing contemporary pieces incorporating Momoyama period techniques is tradition. Tradition consists of retaining transmitted forms and techniques in one's mind when producing a contemporary piece. Tradition is always changing. A mere copy of an old piece has not changed; it is nearly the same as its prototype of four hundred years ago. Tradition consists of creating something new with what one has inherited. In any case, the LNT is held in deep reverence here in Japan and let's hope the next ones can live up to the meaning and bring something fresh and exciting into the diverse world of Japanese pottery.

List of Ceramists Honored as Living National Treasures (as of August 2004) Name Style Work Year Designated Tomimoto Kenkichi 1886-1963 overglaze enamel (iro-e jiki) 1955 Ishiguro Munemaru 1893-1968 iron glazes (tetsu-yu) Hamada Shoji 1894-1978 folk craft (mingei) Arakawa Toyozo 1894-1985 Shino and Setoguro (black Seto) Kaneshige Toyo 1896-1967 Bizen ware 1956 Kato Hajime 1900-1968 overglaze enamel (iro-e jiki) 1961 Fujiwara Kei 1899-1983 Bizen ware 1970 Miwa Kyuwa (Kyusetsu X) 1895-1981 Hagi ware Nakazato Muan (Taroemon XII) 1895-1985 Karatsu 1976 Kondo Yuzo 1902-1985 underglaze blue cobalt (sometsuke) 1977 Tsukamoto Kaiji 1912-1990 white and bluish porcelain (hakuji, seihakuji) 1983 Miwa Kyusetsu Xl 1910- Hagi Shimizu Uichi 1926-2004 iron glaze (tetsu-yu) 1985 Kinjo Jiro 1912- Ryukyu wares Tamura Koichi 1918-1987 iron designs (tetsu-e) 1986 Fujimoto Yoshimichi 1919-1992 overglaze enamel porcelain (iro-e jiki) Yamamoto Toshu 1906-1994 Bizen ware 1987 Imaizumi Imaemon XIII 1926 - 2001 overglaze enamel decoration (iro-e jiki) 1989 Matsui Kosei 1927 - 2003 mutli-colored marbled ware (neriage) 1993 Suzuki Osamu (Kura) 1934 - Shino ware 1994 Kato Takuo 1917 - three-colored ware (sansai) 1995 Inoue Manji 1929 - white porcelain (hakuji) Fujiwara Yu 1932 - 2001 Bizen ware 1996 Shimaoka Tatsuzo 1919 - folk craft rope inlaid wares (mingei jomon zogan) Miura Koheiji 1933 - celadon (seiji) 1997 Tokuda Yasokichi III 1933 - colorful porcelain Kutani (saiyu jiki) Yamada Jozan III 1924 - Tokoname ware tea pots (kyusu) 1998 Sakaida Kakiemon XIV 1934 - overglaze enamel decorative porcelain (iro-e jiki) 2001 Yoshita Minori 1932 - underglaze gold decoration (yuri-kinsai) 2001 Ito Sekisui V 1941 - Mumyo-yaki wares made with red ocher clay from Sadogashima Island 2003 Isezaki Jun 1936 - Bizen ware 2004 Hara Kiyoshi 1936 - iron glaze (tetsu-yu) 2005

LEARN MORE Click here to see another photo tour of award winning Japanese ceramists, those who have received the highest awards of the Japan Ceramic Society. Nearly 80 artists and their work are presented.   Critique of Japan's Living National Treasures System by Aoyama Wahei   Award Winners. Click here for a comprehensive review of awards in Japan, plus hundreds of photos.