Arakawa Toyozo is a historically important Japanese potter of the 20th Century, designated 'National Living Treasure' in 1955 for his Shino and Setoguro wares.
Arakawa Toyozo studied ceramics under Miyanaga Tozan (1863-1941) and was later apprenticed with Kitaoji Rosanjin (1883-1959) in 1927. Arakawa Toyozo holds an important place in modern Japanese ceramics, as in 1930 he excavated ancient kiln sites in Mino, discovering shards of 16th Century Shino and Oribe wares, which he went on to study and replicate. He was the first modern potter to successfully re-create these wares, effectively reviving Shino-type Mino wares of the Momoyama period (1568-1600). He built his own kiln to re-create these wares, re-inventing them in modern expressions rather than simply imitations. In recognition of this, he was designated ‘Living National Treasure’ in 1955 for Shino and Setoguro or ‘Black Seto’ Mino wares. Alongside these wares, he also produced decorated ceramics, some in porcelain, with blue and white and coloured underglaze and enamel designs.
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- 1894 Born in Tajimi, Japan
- 1927 Apprenticed with Kitaoji Rosanjin
- 1930 Excavated ancient kiln sites
- 1933 Established his own kiln
- 1995 Designated Living National Treasure
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