[Hansichi SHIRAI]
Japanese potter. Each generation succeeded the name “Hansichi Sirai” from the first generation.

Their history began in the middle of Edo Period (around 1684-1688) when the first generation Shirai Hansichi made Japanese tea utensils and Doburo ( brazier made of clay to boil water at Japanese tea ceremony) in Tokyo.
Around 1716-1736, the second generation Hansichi established “Imadoyaki ware” that is glazed dark-gray earthenware.
They made Doburo and other tea utensils and the name was succeeded till 6th generation, still their history had to be ended because the kin was collapsed at the time of Great Kanto Earthquake of 1923. Their works made in Kotyo are called “Imado ware” or “Sumidagawa Hansichi”. (Works after replacement are not called as Imado ware. The 5th generation Yasujiro Shirai ( the branch family from Hansichi Shirai ) keeps the technique of Imado ware in Taito, Tokyo.)
After Great Kanto Earthquake, the 7th generation Hansichi moved their kin to Itami, Hyogo and 8th generation Hansichi(1898-1949) moved it to Takaraduka, then in 1980, the 9th Hansichi (1928-1987) relocated to Ohara, Santa city in Hyogo.
Both 8th and 9th generation were close to traditional Japanese restaurant “Kitcho” and they created not only tea utensils but also many tableware such as dishes and teacups for Kitcho. The style of 8th was splendid with the taste of Kyoyaki ware, and 9th had a great talent of glazing a picture on pottery.