JAPANESE TEA CEREMONY / TEA BOWL CHAWAN / SETO WARE

[Oribe ware]
One style of Japanese pottery created in Mino area in Gifu prefecture between the end of 16th century and the early 17th century. One kind of Mino ware.
The history had began in the and of 16th century when Oribe FURUTA, a Japanese feudal lord and a tea master who was a discipline of Sen no Rikyu let potters create tea utensils in his favor. Potters created his favored tea utensils which had unique shapes and paintings. Oribe ware was quite eccentric and original at that time because generally the style of Oribe is deformed and polygon.
The major color of Oribe ware is black, deep green and red. They are decided into Oribe kuro (or Kuro(black) Oribe), Ao(blue) Oribe, Aka (red) Oribe, Shino Oribe and so on depends on color of glazes and other characteristics.
Most of Oribe Kuro (Kuro Oribe) products are chawans, and other Oribe ware are mostly table wares.

[Shunji KATO]
A potter who is the master of Aoian in Seto, Aichi. The name “Shunji Kato” and their honorific title "Chikurian" have been used in presenting the master. Kiseto is their specialty.

-the First Generation: Shunji Kato(1862-1944)
He established a branch family and opened his pottery studio, Aoigama in Seto. He created his works with traditional methods, and he named himself “Chikurian” as the honorific title.
He revived Yanagichawan as Tencha-chawan and presented them to the Owari-Tokugawa family every year. Later, Yanagichawan became the traditional products of Aoigama. He died in 1944 at the age of 82.

-the Second Generation: Shunji Kato (1892-1979)
He was the oldest son of the first generation Shunji. He entered into Seto Ceramic School (present Seto Pottery Senior High School) in 1907, but retired and started to learn pottery under his father. In 1926, he succeeded his father’s name.
In 1931, he held two exhibitions; “Seto Rokusakuten” at Hoteiya Tokyo with other 5potters, and the other was held at Hankyu department store. After his oldest son, Kazui’s death in Nankin because of war, he created Koua-Kannon (the goddess of mercy) in Izuyama, Atami to comfort the spirit of the dead in the WW2.
He was designated as the holder of Important Intangible Cultural Property (Living National Treasure) in 1975. He was a member of the Seto Potter Association and worked as a councilor and an adviser.
His specialty was tea utensils with a glaze of Koseto-yu/ Oribe-yu such as Chawan ( tea bowl), water jugs and tea containers.
He died from old age at the age of 87 on February 15, 1979.


-the Third Generation : Shunji Kato (1944-2000)
He was a grond son of the second generation, real name was Toshio.
He mainly made tea utensils and tablewares with the traditional methods. He won several prizes at Japan Traditional Art Crafts Exhibition, Asahi Pottery Exhibition and so on. After he succeeded the third generation, he died suddenly in 2000. After his death, his widow started pottery and keep the Aoigama pottery studio.


[Seto ware]
Seto ware is a type of Japanese pottery produced in and around the village of Seto in Aichi Prefecture. Seto was one of the Six Ancient Kilns of Japan.
The first pottery in Seto produced in the 13th century, and Seto was the only area where produced glazed ceramics in medieval times of Japan.
Katō Shirōzaemon is credited as the first potter to produce Seto ware. He brought methods of glazed ceramics from China in Kamakura period, and he started the production of ceramics glazed with iron glaze and ash glaze in Seto. In Momoyama period (1337–1573), Seto potters produced more tea utensils along with the development of tea ceremony.
Seto ware has various kinds of glazes; ash glaze, iron glaze, Kiseto(yellow), Setokuro(black), Shino, Oribe and Tetsu-aka.