Tatsuzō Shimaoka

Tatsuzō Shimaoka (1919 - 2007) was born in Tokyo and at the age of 19 he decided that he wanted to become of mingei* potter after visiting the Japanese Folk Crafts Museum. However, it wasn't until 1946 that he was able to begin potting when he took up an apprenticeship with Shoji Hamada in Mashiko.

After his apprenticeship, Shimaoka didn't move too far, as he set up his own pottery next door to Hamada in 1953 and continued to work there until his death.

In 1996 Shimaoka was designated a Living National Treasure (Ningen Kokuho) by the Japanese Government, becoming the second Living Treasure from Mashiko after his teacher, Shoji Hamada.

* Folk Art

Unlike Hamada, Shimoaka marked most of his work as shown.

A large yunomi with the lidded of its signed wooden box.


and the foot of the yunomi with Shimaoka's seal mark filled with glaze.

Shimaoka Tatsuzo