Mashiko Pottery, Japan

Yoshimichi Goda was born in 1910 in Toyohama-cho, Mitoyo-gun, Kagawa Prefecture (currently Kanonji City), and moved to Tokyo in 1929 to aspire to be a painter.

After moving to Tokyo, he came into contact with antique art, and in 1942 he started a craft shop "Mon" that doubles as a coffee shop with his friend Yasubei Ito.
Moved to Mashiko in 1946 based on Shoji Hamada. In teaching Mashiko's pottery, he instilled knowledge of pottery and ideas of folk art in many aspiring potters.

Also, as an artist, he left behind not only pottery but also various works such as paintings and books, and became an indispensable presence in talking about the history of Mashiko.

1942: Started a craft shop "Mon" that doubled as a coffee shop with my friend Yasubei Ito. Introduced by Koyama Fujio, works by Kenkichi Tomimoto, Munemaro Ishiguro, Rosanjin Kitaoji, Toyozora Arakawa, Shoji Hamada and others are on display.
1946: Moved to Mashiko based on Shoji Hamada. Worked for Aka-e at the Endoji / Narii kiln. Hamada encourages her by seeing the work.
1945: Takayoshi Yanagi visits Mashiko with Bernard Leach. Meet Yanagi for the first time.
1952: While drawing oil paintings, he also teaches several kilns such as Daisei Kiln and Tsukamoto Kiln.
1974: Moved to South Korea with Yasuo Wada and opened a Gimhae kiln in collaboration with Mr. Kim, a Korean.
1977: Solo exhibition "Gimhae Kiln / Yoshimichi Goda Ceramics Exhibition" (Shinjuku / Keio Department Store)
1978: Solo exhibition "Gimhae Kiln / Yoshimichi Goda Exhibition" (Hiroshima / Fukuya Department Store)
1980: Leave Gimhae and return to Mashiko.
1981: Established Goda Pottery Research Institute with the help of several volunteers from Mashiko. Made pottery with Yasuo Wada.
1983: Group exhibition "Aida Pottery Research Institute Association" (Utsunomiya / Seibu Department Store / Mashiko / Gallery Jonaizaka)
1990: Group exhibition "10th Anniversary of Goda Pottery Research Institute" (Mashiko / Gallery Kurodo)
1993: Published "Yoshimichi Goda Works". Solo exhibition "Commemoration of publication of works" (Utsunomiya / Seibu Department Store)
1994: Received the Marronnier Cultural Award. "Yoshimichi Goda Exhibition" (Mashiko / Ceramic Art Messe Mashiko)
1995: Tochigi Prefecture Person of Cultural Merit. Solo exhibition (Mashiko / Gallery Kurodo)
1996: Solo exhibition (Shibuya / Beniya folk art store)
1998: Solo exhibition (Mashiko / Gallery Kurodo)
1999: Held "Yoshimichi Goda Exhibition" (Kagawa Prefecture / Marugame Hirai Museum) Received the Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology Award for Regional Cultural Merit.
February 6, 2000: Deceased
2010: Held "Do you know Yoshimichi Goda" commemorating the 100th anniversary of birth (Mashiko Museum of Ceramic Art)

studio-pots wrote:From looking at your information, I think the second bowl might be by Yoshimishi but the 3 pieces to me look to have been made by different hands.

Tagami Isamu (四代目　田上勇 Isamu Tagami) was born in 1947 in Mooka, a village neighboring to Mashiko. He married into the Sudo family and apprenticed under Sudo Takeo. He was originally trained as a Japanese chef and had his own restaurant before embarking on a career in pottery, giving him a unique perspective on functional wares. He is currently the 4th-generation head of Hinatagama, founded in Mashiko by Sudo Yujiro in the Meiji Period (1868-1912.)

His work has won awards in Prefecture and National ceramic exhibitions as he continues his work in the use of traditional and local Mashiko clay and glazes, much in the same way that his father’s teacher, Hamada Shoji, did. Hinatagama (Hinata Kiln) was established in Mashiko by Sudo Yujiro during the Meiji Period (1868-1912.) Sudo Yujiro was a potter at the Jishoji-yaki kilns in Gumma Prefecture. Production at the Jishoji-yaki kilns had declined at the turn of the century and many potters relocated to Mashiko around 1905. In the kiln’s 2nd generation, under Sudo Yasutaro, there was considerable growth in Mashiko’s pottery industry and Hinatagama was a large kiln employing several craftsmen..

Yasutaro’s son, Takeo, and Hamada’s 3rd son, Atsuya, were close friends who played together daily. Takeo eventually became an apprentice of Hamada Shoji, who by this time had been designated a National Living Treasure, and worked at the Hamada kiln. Afterwards, Hamada helped Takeo establish his own kiln directly in front of his own (the present-day site of the Hamada Sankokan Museum) and this is still the current site of Hinatagama today.

Continuing as the 3rd generation of his family potting in Mashiko, Sudo Takeo (1931-1998) gained considerable recognition for his work as a Mashiko potter; representing Tochigi Prefecture abroad, having numerous exhibitions in Mashiko and Tokyo, training several future generations of Japanese and International potters, and having his vase featuring the traditional Mashiko kaki (persimmon) glaze presented to Crown Princess Masako in 1993.

Hinatagama is currently operated by 4th and 5th generation potters, Tagami Isamu (Sudo Takeo’s son-in-law) and Tagami Munetoshi (grandson of Sudo Takeo,) who continue not only the pottery traditions of their family, but also the tradition of folk pottery in Mashiko.