KUTANism 2022｜九谷焼の芸術祭クタニズム2022

How are the techniques of Kutani born and how will they evolve? KUTANism supervisor Akimoto Yuji personally visits the production sites and discusses this with the navigators. This is a series of videos of Kutani re-discovery (archived from 2020 and 2021).

2021
2020

#01　A Learning Hub Where Kutani Techniques Are Passed Down

With "techniques" and "tradition" as our keywords, this series unravels the genealogy of Kutani to discover its charms. For the first episode, we visit the Ishikawa Prefectural Research Center for Kutaniyaki Techniques, which has churned out many artists and craftspersons since its establishment. There, we get a chance to join in the classes for "Ko-Kutani Replication" and "Mold-shaping Techniques".
#02　The Kutaniyaki Family Tree: Tracing the History of the Yoshidaya Kiln & Ko-Kutani

This time, we visit the Kutani porcelain kiln ruins where Ko-Kutani were once produced, as well as the Kaga City Kutani-yaki Kiln Museum, where the remains of the Yoshidaya Kiln which moved from the village of Kutani can be found. Through these two historical locations, we uncover the foundation and evolution of modern Kutani, as originating from Ko-Kutani.
#03　Shapes That Enhance Painting: The Inherited Kutani Techniques of Rokuro & Kata-uchi

This time, we visit the Kutani porcelain kiln ruins where Ko-Kutani were once produced, as well as the Kaga City Kutani-yaki Kiln Museum, where the remains of the Yoshidaya Kiln which moved from the village of Kutani can be found. Through these two historical locations, we uncover the foundation and evolution of modern Kutani, as originating from Ko-Kutani.
#04　Expressing One’s Individuality as an Artist, While Preserving the “Color” Inherited Across Generations

It is with an elegantly-shaped base that the gorgeous paintings of Kutani ware are brought to life. We pay a visit to Azuma Ceramics, which has specialized in rokuro pottery wheel-shaping over three consecutive generations, as well as Miyagoshi Tokuji, one of the few successors of the kata-uchi mold-shaping technique to be found in the country.
#05　Pursuing One's Unique Expression Through "Painting"

In continuation of episode 4, we visit another artist studio. This time, the Chikuryu Kiln, where we meet the father-and-son pair, Kitamura Takashi & Kitamura Kazuyoshi. Takashi works at expressing the excessive patterns that arguably characterize Kutani ware, while Kazuyoshi takes on new challenges. Just what charms and possibilities do these two passionate individuals envision for Kutani ware?
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#06　　Unveiling the World of Japanese Poems Through the "Mohitsu Saiji" Technique"

The last episode exploring an artists's studio. We visit Tamura Keisei III, who uses the mohitsu saiji technique of intricate letter-painting to express a unique beauty, and hear how the technique of mohitsu saiji, very rarely encountered within the world of ceramics, was born and inherited.
#07　Reviewing the History of Kutani Ware Through Its Export

We pay a visit to Shokawa Ryohei, a former player in the export of Kutani ware from Yokohama, who now plays an active role in telling that history. While browsing through precious records, we unravel the history of how Kutani ware has evolved through the eras, from the pre-war period to the post-war economic miracle.
#08　Fusing Printing Technology With Artisan Techniques, to Open Up a New Frontier

Episodes 8 & 9 follow the theme of "Industry & Kutani", where we visit corporations that support the industrial aspect of Kutani ware. Specifically, Seikou, which leads the industry through its replication technology. We visit its production site where where products of unmatched quality and added-value are created through steady efforts at business management.
#09　 The Tonya Wholesalers Who Distribute, Support Artists and Protect the Sites of Production

Inoseiho, an old-time wholesaler that has supported the Kutani industry over decades since its establishment in the Taisho period (early 1900s). And Kitano Tojudo, which has mastered the Internet to sell Kutani ware in the present. Through these two companies who serve as representatives for the production sites, we trace the transitions of the Kutani ware industry and its changes in distribution.
#AFTER TALK　We come to a close of all 9 episodes of 2021's LIBRARY

For 2021, we followed the theme of “techniques” and “tradition”. This AFTER TALK looks back at the encounters of training sites transmitting the techniques of Kutani ware, parent-to-child succession, and sites supporting the Kutani ware industry, alongside Mr. Akimoto.

#01　A Learning Hub Where Kutani Techniques Are Passed Down

#02　The Kutaniyaki Family Tree: Tracing the History of the Yoshidaya Kiln & Ko-Kutani

#03　Shapes That Enhance Painting: The Inherited Kutani Techniques of Rokuro & Kata-uchi

#04　Expressing One’s Individuality as an Artist, While Preserving the “Color” Inherited Across Generations

#05　Pursuing One's Unique Expression Through "Painting"

#06　　Unveiling the World of Japanese Poems Through the "Mohitsu Saiji" Technique"

#07　Reviewing the History of Kutani Ware Through Its Export

#08　Fusing Printing Technology With Artisan Techniques, to Open Up a New Frontier

#09　 The Tonya Wholesalers Who Distribute, Support Artists and Protect the Sites of Production

#AFTER TALK　We come to a close of all 9 episodes of 2021's LIBRARY

【第一話】九谷焼を再興した“陶石（＝ルーツ）”を訪ねて

【第二話】九谷焼の土台を守る、磁器土づくり

【第三話】上絵付けを下支えする、素地の力

【第四話】“絵としての完成”を追求する、九谷の魂

【第五話】―前編― 受け継がれた古九谷のDNAが花開くまで〜古九谷から吉田屋まで〜

【第六話】―後編― 窯を超え出て生まれた名工たち〜明治から昭和まで〜

【第七話】古九谷という頂点を見つめ、独り登る

【第八話】“産地”として、底上げしていく。

【第九話】“生きた”美術品として、暮らしの中で使い継ぐ。

AFTER TALK／「秋元雄史がゆく、九谷焼の物語」を終えて。

#01 A Learning Hub Where Kutani Techniques Are Passed Down

#02 The Kutaniyaki Family Tree: Tracing the History of the Yoshidaya Kiln & Ko-Kutani

#03 Shapes That Enhance Painting: The Inherited Kutani Techniques of Rokuro & Kata-uchi

#04 Expressing One’s Individuality as an Artist, While Preserving the “Color” Inherited Across Generations

#05 Pursuing One's Unique Expression Through "Painting"

#06 Unveiling the World of Japanese Poems Through the "Mohitsu Saiji" Technique"

#07 Reviewing the History of Kutani Ware Through Its Export

#08 Fusing Printing Technology With Artisan Techniques, to Open Up a New Frontier

#09 The Tonya Wholesalers Who Distribute, Support Artists and Protect the Sites of Production

#AFTER TALK We come to a close of all 9 episodes of 2021's LIBRARY