Kato Hajime

A ceramic artist, he established a unique style in the world of overglaze porcelain in particular. He was born in Seto-cho, Higashikasugai-gun, Aichi Prefecture (now Nishihon-cho, Seto City). His real name was Hajime. In 1914 (Taisho 3), he was employed as a potter at Senbo-en in Seto, and thereafter became active as a ceramic designer. He deepened his knowledge of ancient ceramics by investigating ancient kiln sites, and continued to pursue the elucidation of techniques for ancient Chinese and Korean ceramics. In his later years, he developed his own unique ceramics, using Chinese ceramics such as overglaze porcelain, brocade, and blue-and-white porcelain as technical models. In 1980 (Showa 30), he became the first professor in charge of ceramics at Tokyo University of the Arts, and in 1986, he was recognized as a holder of the Important Intangible Cultural Property for overglaze porcelain.

[Yoshiaki Yabe]

"Complete Collection of Contemporary Japanese Ceramics 12: Kato Hashimoto" edited by Yoshida Kozo (1982, Shueisha)

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

陶芸作家。とくに色絵磁器の世界に一作風を確立した。愛知県東春日井(ひがしかすがい)郡瀬戸町（現瀬戸市西本町）生まれ。本名一(はじめ)。1914年（大正3）に瀬戸の千峯園に陶画工として雇われ、以後陶磁の意匠家としても活躍することとなった。古窯址(こようし)を調査して古陶磁への見識を高め、中国・朝鮮古陶磁に対する技術解明へと追究は進み、晩年にはとくに色絵磁器、金襴手(きんらんで)、青白磁など中国陶磁を技術の手本として作陶を独創的に展開することとなった。55年（昭和30）東京芸術大学の初代陶芸科主任教授になり、61年には「色絵磁器」の重要無形文化財保持者に認定された。

［矢部良明］

『吉田耕三編『現代日本陶芸全集12　加藤土師萌』（1982・集英社）』

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