[Rakusai ONISHI]
A potter who is the master of an Akahada ware kiln, “Kouhaku kiln” in Yamato-gun, Nara prefecture. The name has been succeeded from the first generation Rakusai to the present master, the7th generation Rakusai.
The Onishi family had been potters from generation to generation. Load Yanagisawa, the load of Koriyama Domain, gave them both the kiln name “Kouhaku kiln” and the art name “Rakusai” to keep techniques invented by Mokuhaku OKUDA, the founder of a Akahada ware renaissance in the end of Edo period and established the kiln in Takada where was a Keihaku’s hometown near the Koriyama Castle. Keeping traditional methods and their　secret glazes, Rakusai in each generations has created ash-glazed or Hagi-glazed tea usentils such as chawan, flower vaces, incense containers with beautiful Nara e paintings.
-The Sixth Generation Rakusai
A skillful potter who showed his pottery performance to Showa Emperor. He won many prizes at the Nitten Exhibition and other exhibitions and held his personal exhibitions every year at well-known department stores.
He was awarded the Order of the Rising Sun, Gold and Silver Rays in 1990.
-The Seventh Generation Rakusai (the Present master)
Born in 1958. After his graduation from Konan University, he refined his skills under his grandfather, the 5th Rakusai. He has held many exhibitions in various cities in Japan since his first exhibition in 1998.
He succeeded his father’s name in 2005 and was awarded the title “Kasuga Onkawarakeshi (an earthen ware potter)” by Kasugataisya Shrine in Nara. In 2008, he created and presented containers for confectionery to Emperor and Empress.