Collection: Eguchi Katsumi

Intangible cultural heritage in Saga prefecture: Katsumi Eguchi

Katsumi Eguchi, he has been potter for 68 years since he exhibited at second Saga exhibition in 1952. His achievements are the purchase of the Agency for Cultural Affairs and Victoria and Albert Museum, The Grand Prize of pottery, that is the prize of Prime Minister, at art exhibition of Western Japan pottery, The Award for Person of Cultural Merits, The Prize of the Minister for Education, The Award of kyokujitusoukou, he won the prize for exhibition of Japanese Traditional Art 44 times in a row, and so on. He is one of potter representing Takeo Ware in not only Japan and also all over the world.

♢Pride of private potter

Potteries are created by division of work. Artisan of potter’s wheel create their things, and next, Artisan of painting bake and produce them.
Katsumi Eguchi works private potter and does not only painting and also improved skill of potter’ wheel during purchasing good things that are no one can produce. He puddles soil, molds, paints, and bakes himself, so his products are committed to detail.
"Washizome" in Oyamaji kiln and the specialty he makes from scratch.
The reason that he has original view and we are attracted is he produces with his soul.
His happiness and worth as potter is the time that we watch his products.

♢Kurinukitoubako

Kurinukitoubako is the product that is Katsumi Eguchi creates taking passion, technic, and the time.
He forms soil into a square, digs inside through with a chisel politely, puts upper and main pottery together, and finally, bakes them.
As the way of making is unique, they are broken and just remain 2 at the time of setting in a kiln even he creates 20 at the first. Furthermore, they are broken and sticked during they are baked, so it takes 6 months at the earliest and more than 1 year at the latest to create completely.
Making Kurinukitoubako needs expert skill, feeling of potter, and long years, so it gets high evaluation in the world.
Only Katsumi Eguchi can make this product that was purchased from Japanese Agency for Cultural Affairs and the Museum in the UK. "The spirit of potter is challenging new things."
Katsumi Eguchi told like that. That is why it is an unprecedented article.