YAMAGUCHI Masami

Masami Yamaguchi, ceramic artist. Born in 1948 in Nagasaki Prefecture, Japan. Currently living in Nagasaki. His specialties are the use of manual pottery wheel, seihakuji bluish white porcelain, white porcelain with engravings, and large vases and crocks created with pottery wheel, which are distinctive features of porcelain artwork by Yamaguchi Shoemon. Masami Yamaguchi grew up watching his father create porcelain works and spent his early childhood days playing with clay. He has some unique backgrounds, including joining the 1st Airborne Brigade of the Japan Self-Defense Forces, but began pursuing his career in pottery after his father fell ill. He recreated hasami ware from the ancient times, which is called a rarity in the world of celadon pottery, and has been keeping the tradition of celadon pottery and sculpture ever since. His works were accepted to “Japan Fine Arts Exhibition” and “Japan Ceramic Art Exhibition,” and won numerous awards, including a gold prize from “International Exhibition of Ceramic Art.” He holds private exhibitions in and out of the country. Past accomplishments include one in New York, America, where he performed pottery wheel spinning, and another in Los Angeles. He was certified as an artisan by the Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry in 1991, a master by Zengiren (National Craftsmen's Association) in 2006, and a “Contemporary Master Craftsman (a skilled craftsman)” in 2010. He obtained a vocational training instructor’s license in 2006, and was awarded a “Medal with Yellow Ribbon” in 2015.