Hamada Shoji

Ceramicist. His real name was Shoji. He was born in Kawasaki, Kanagawa Prefecture. At the age of 15, inspired by the words of Renoir, he decided to pursue a career in crafts, and in 1913 (Taisho 2), he entered the ceramics department of Tokyo Higher Technical School. He studied under Itaya Hazan and got to know his senior, Kawai Kanjiro. He later entered the Kyoto Municipal Ceramic Testing Laboratory and researched glazes. In 1920, he accompanied Bernard Leach, who was in Japan at the time, to England, where they deepened their friendship. After returning to Japan in 1924, he built a kiln in Mashiko, Tochigi Prefecture. Using the clay and glazes of the area as a base, he established a simple, bold style of work that applied seemingly random decorations to heavy vessels, and completed his own unique style in 1935 (Showa 10). He also promoted the folk craft movement with Muneyoshi Yanagi and others from the end of the Taisho period, and in 1962 (Showa 37) succeeded Yanagi as director of the Japan Folk Crafts Museum. In 1955, he was recognized as a holder of the Important Intangible Cultural Property for Folk Crafts, and in 1968 was awarded the Order of Culture. He died in Mashiko. Many of his works are on display at the Mashiko Sankokan Museum in the same area.

[Yoshiaki Yabe]

"Complete Collection of Contemporary Japanese Ceramics 7: Hamada Shoji" (1981, Shueisha)

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

陶芸家。本名は象二。神奈川県川崎生まれ。15歳のときルノワールのことばに触発されて工芸を志し、1913年（大正2）東京高等工業学校窯業科に入学。板谷波山(いたやはざん)に師事し、先輩の河井寛次郎を知る。のち京都市立陶磁器試験場に入所し釉(うわぐすり)の研究を行う。1920年、在日中のバーナード・リーチに同行して渡英し親交を深め、1924年帰国後、栃木県益子(ましこ)に築窯。同地の陶土や釉薬(ゆうやく)を基本として無作為ともみえる加飾を重厚な器に施した質朴雄勁(ゆうけい)な作風を確立し、1935年（昭和10）には独自の様式を完成した。また、大正末期より柳宗悦(むねよし)らと民芸運動を推進し、1962年（昭和37）には柳の後を継いで日本民芸館館長に就任。1955年には民芸陶器の重要無形文化財保持者に認定され、1968年には文化勲章を受章。益子に没。多くの作品は同地の益子参考館に陳列されている。

［矢部良明］

『『現代日本陶芸全集7　濱田庄司』（1981・集英社）』

出典　小学館　日本大百科全書(ニッポニカ)日本大百科全書(ニッポニカ)について　情報 | 凡例