| 1933 (Showa 8) |
Born in Komatsu City, Ishikawa Prefecture. (After leaving Kanazawa College of Art before graduation, studied under his grandfather, Tokuda Yasokichi I, and his father, Tokuda Yasokichi II.) |
|---|---|
| 1971 (Showa 46) |
Exhibited "Saiyu Hachi" (Glaze-enameled Bowl) for the first time at the 18th Japan Traditional Art Crafts Exhibition, winning the Excellence Award and the NHK President's Award. |
| 1977 (Showa 52) |
Exhibited "Yosai Hachi" (Luminous Glaze Bowl) at the 24th Japan Traditional Art Crafts Exhibition, winning the Grand Prize and the Japan Art Crafts Association President's Award. |
| 1978 (Showa 53) |
Appointed as a special exhibitor and judge at the Japan Traditional Art Crafts Exhibition. |
| 1986 (Showa 61) |
Held a solo exhibition in Cairo, Egypt (subsequently held numerous overseas exhibitions). |
| 1988 (Showa 63) |
Succeeded to the name Tokuda Yasokichi III. |
| 1990 (Heisei 2) |
Won the Grand Prix at the '90 International Ceramics Exhibition. |
| 1991 (Heisei 3) |
Recommended exhibitor at the 11th Japan Ceramic Art Exhibition with "Sosei" (Creation), winning the Grand Prix and the Prince Chichibu Memorial Cup. Received the Foreign Minister's Commendation. |
| 1993 (Heisei 5) |
Awarded the Medal with Purple Ribbon. |
| 1997 (Heisei 9) |
Won the Grand Prix at the 10th MOA Mokichi Okada Award Exhibition. Designated a Holder of Important Intangible Cultural Property ("Saiyu Porcelain"), commonly known as a Living National Treasure. Named an Honorary Citizen of Komatsu City. |
| 1998 (Heisei 10) |
"Yosai Senmon Tsubo" (Luminous Glaze Line-Patterned Vase) acquired by The Metropolitan Museum of Art (USA). |
| 2000 (Heisei 12) |
Held a solo exhibition at the Istituto Giapponese di Cultura in Rome. |
| 2005 (Heisei 17) |
"Yosai Tsubo: Kanga" (Luminous Glaze Vase: Ganges) displayed at the entrance of the Japan Gallery in The British Museum. Appointed Chairman of the Kutani Ware Technique Preservation Society (Ishikawa Prefecture Intangible Cultural Property). |
| 2007 (Heisei 19) |
Selected as the sole living artist featured in the Agency for Cultural Affairs' "Japanese Ceramics Exhibition" in Portugal, displaying "Yosai Kabun Hachi" (Luminous Glaze Floral Pattern Bowl). Delivered a commemorative lecture at "The Beauty of Craftsmanship Exhibition" organized by The British Museum in London. |
| 2009 (Heisei 21) |
Passed away (posthumously conferred the Senior Fifth Rank). |
Kutani Ware Yosai Glaze Bowl "Raimei" / Tokuda Yasokichi III (Living National Treasure)
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Kutani Ware Yosai Glaze Bowl "Raimei" / Tokuda Yasokichi III (Living National Treasure)
Sale price¥11,000,000
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作品紹介
The pinnacle of beauty breaking through Kutani ware traditions: "Yosai Hachi: Raimei" (Glazed Bowl: Lightning Life), a masterpiece left behind by Tokuda Yasokichi III.
Standing before this work, one is captivated by a gradient of colors that transitions from an engulfing deep navy to light blue, green, and a vivid yellow. From a bright blue at the center, a pentagonal ring of light unfolds, sending five sharp bands of light radiating outward to the perimeter. This precise composition, though a still vessel, emits a dynamism as if spinning rapidly and radiating energy in all directions.
"Raimei" (Lightning Life). The mystery behind its name lies in the intense duality the artwork exudes: an overwhelming power like lightning piercing through clouds, combined with a haunting beauty that seems to capture the briefest moment just before light vanishes. Lightning possesses destructive force, yet it is also a fleeting illusion that vanishes in less than a second. The smooth, glassy glaze in which Tokuda Yasokichi III takes pride freezes that momentary flash of light in time, locking it forever inside the vessel.
Bringing forth this sublime color coloration—a true miracle of nature—is none other than the matchless skill of Tokuda Yasokichi III. Rather than painting motifs like conventional Kutani ware, he pursued the meticulous blending of dozens of glaze varieties, flawlessly controlling kiln temperatures exceeding 1,000°C. This astonishing technique evokes a drama of flame beyond human calculation. Since ancient times in Japan, lightning was known as "Inazuma" (the spouse of rice plants) and revered as a source of life. Through the mystical process of fiercely burning flames merging with glazes inside the kiln to radiate a unique luster, the overwhelming vitality of nature now takes on eternal life right here as "Raimei."
*Please note that the included wooden box shows some minor staining due to age. We ask for your understanding in treasuring this as part of the authentic character of the original box (signed and inscribed by the artist at the time of creation).
Title of Work: Yosai Glaze Bowl "Raimei"
Dimensions: Dia. 54 × H 6 cm
Box Type: Wooden box with cord (Kiribako)
Tokuda Yasokichi III, Living National Treasure
Living National Treasure Representing Modern Kutani: Expressing Breathtaking Beauty Through Tonal Gradations of Color
Tokuda Yasokichi III, designated a Living National Treasure, created exquisite color harmonies through "Saiyu Porcelain" (Glaze-enameled Porcelain)—a technique of applying distinctively formulated colored glazes.
The deep transparency and luster born from the glassy nature of his glazes, paired with meticulously crafted color gradations, emit a singular beauty that instantly spellbinds beholders. Capturing a vast cosmic scale within porcelain, his oeuvre elevated Kutani ware to modern fine art and continues to shine with eternal brilliance both in Japan and internationally.
Biography
| 1933 (Showa 8) |
Born in Komatsu City, Ishikawa Prefecture. (After leaving Kanazawa College of Art before graduation, studied under his grandfather, Tokuda Yasokichi I, and his father, Tokuda Yasokichi II.) |
|---|---|
| 1971 (Showa 46) |
Exhibited "Saiyu Hachi" (Glaze-enameled Bowl) for the first time at the 18th Japan Traditional Art Crafts Exhibition, winning the Excellence Award and the NHK President's Award. |
| 1977 (Showa 52) |
Exhibited "Yosai Hachi" (Luminous Glaze Bowl) at the 24th Japan Traditional Art Crafts Exhibition, winning the Grand Prize and the Japan Art Crafts Association President's Award. |
| 1978 (Showa 53) |
Appointed as a special exhibitor and judge at the Japan Traditional Art Crafts Exhibition. |
| 1986 (Showa 61) |
Held a solo exhibition in Cairo, Egypt (subsequently held numerous overseas exhibitions). |
| 1988 (Showa 63) |
Succeeded to the name Tokuda Yasokichi III. |
| 1990 (Heisei 2) |
Won the Grand Prix at the '90 International Ceramics Exhibition. |
| 1991 (Heisei 3) |
Recommended exhibitor at the 11th Japan Ceramic Art Exhibition with "Sosei" (Creation), winning the Grand Prix and the Prince Chichibu Memorial Cup. Received the Foreign Minister's Commendation. |
| 1993 (Heisei 5) |
Awarded the Medal with Purple Ribbon. |
| 1997 (Heisei 9) |
Won the Grand Prix at the 10th MOA Mokichi Okada Award Exhibition. Designated a Holder of Important Intangible Cultural Property ("Saiyu Porcelain"), commonly known as a Living National Treasure. Named an Honorary Citizen of Komatsu City. |
| 1998 (Heisei 10) |
"Yosai Senmon Tsubo" (Luminous Glaze Line-Patterned Vase) acquired by The Metropolitan Museum of Art (USA). |
| 2000 (Heisei 12) |
Held a solo exhibition at the Istituto Giapponese di Cultura in Rome. |
| 2005 (Heisei 17) |
"Yosai Tsubo: Kanga" (Luminous Glaze Vase: Ganges) displayed at the entrance of the Japan Gallery in The British Museum. Appointed Chairman of the Kutani Ware Technique Preservation Society (Ishikawa Prefecture Intangible Cultural Property). |
| 2007 (Heisei 19) |
Selected as the sole living artist featured in the Agency for Cultural Affairs' "Japanese Ceramics Exhibition" in Portugal, displaying "Yosai Kabun Hachi" (Luminous Glaze Floral Pattern Bowl). Delivered a commemorative lecture at "The Beauty of Craftsmanship Exhibition" organized by The British Museum in London. |
| 2009 (Heisei 21) |
Passed away (posthumously conferred the Senior Fifth Rank). |
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