| 1956 (Showa 31) |
Born in Nomi City, Ishikawa Prefecture. Fifth-generation master of the Shoza Kiln, inheriting the tradition of Zenpei Takagoshi, who trained under the master artisan Kutani Shoza. |
|---|---|
| 1979 (Showa 54) |
Graduated from Kanazawa College of Art, majoring in Ceramics. |
| 1980 (Showa 55) |
Selected for the Nitten Exhibition for the first time (subsequently won the Tokusen Special Award twice and served as a judge five times). |
| 1981 (Showa 56) |
Selected for the Japan Contemporary Crafts Exhibition for the first time (subsequently received five awards and served as a judge eight times). |
| 1986 (Showa 61) |
Awarded the Crafts Grand Prize at the Ishikawa Crafts Exhibition. |
| 1988 (Showa 63) |
Selected to exhibit at the Singapore Festival of Arts. |
| 1995 (Heisei 7) |
Won the Grand Prix at the Traditional Kutani Ware Crafts Exhibition. Traveled the Silk Road and visited the Republic of Uzbekistan, establishing the "Faraway Days" series as his lifelong work. |
| 1998 (Heisei 10) |
Selected to exhibit at the "100 Years of Kutani Ware" exhibition in Paris. |
| 2007 (Heisei 19) |
Revisited the Republic of Uzbekistan; exhibited at the Tashkent Biennale. |
| 2012 (Heisei 24) |
Selected as one of the "Twenty Artists Carrying the Future of Fine Arts and Crafts" (Ribun Shuppan). |
| 2014 (Heisei 26) |
Awarded the Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology Award at the Japan Contemporary Crafts Exhibition. |
| 2019 (Reiwa 1) |
Awarded the Prime Minister's Award at the Japan Contemporary Crafts Exhibition. |
| 2020 (Reiwa 2) |
Recommended exhibitor at the Mokichi Okada Award Exhibition (MOA Museum of Art). |
| 2021 (Reiwa 3) |
Selected to exhibit at "Kōgei 2020: The Nature and Form of Beauty" (Tokyo National Museum). |
| FY2024 (Reiwa 6) |
Awarded the 81st Japan Art Academy Prize for his work "Vessel of the Moon: The Return Journey." |
| Present | Member of Nitten; Director of the Japan Contemporary Arts and Crafts Association; Standing Councilor of the Ishikawa Art Culture Association; Director of the Ishikawa Ceramic Artists Association. |
Kutani Ware Flower Vase Overglaze Enamel "Distant Days" / Takegoshi Kazunori
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Kutani Ware Flower Vase Overglaze Enamel "Distant Days" / Takegoshi Kazunori
Sale price¥330,000
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Work introduction
A blue that stops time. "Distant Days"—a realm of fantasy and tranquility rendered by Takegoshi Kazunori.
Earning high acclaim both in Japan and internationally, ceramic artist Takegoshi Kazunori sublimates Kutani ware traditions into the modern era. From his iconic "Distant Days" series comes a flower vase with a contemporary art presence that leaves a deep, lasting impression on the viewer's heart.
Enveloping the entire piece is the deep, vibrant blue named "Samarkand Blue," a signature hue of Takegoshi Kazunori. Against this mystical background, a nostalgic and wondrous story is quietly woven.
— A Hint of "Motion" Woven from Light and Shadow —
Depicted on the front is an elderly man wearing a hat and a white beard. Clad in a black-and-green striped gown, wearing boots and carrying a handbag, he takes steps forward toward an unseen destination.
Particularly noteworthy is the massive silhouette floating softly beside him. The shadow contrast—rendered as if bathed in strong side light—brings a captivating depth and beauty to the composition. Near the top sits a single wooden-framed window. Set against the Samarkand Blue background, the pale translucent blue of the window glass creates an inviting sense of airiness, evoking a pleasant sense of calm.
— A Quiet "Stillness" Where a Standing Figure Prompts Contemplation —
Turning the vase gently around reveals another quiet scene. A figure stands solitary, facing toward us. The presence of the same window near the top suggests that another visitor has arrived at the very same place.
"What could he be thinking? What is he gazing at?"
The contrast between the "movement" on the front and the "stillness" on the back endlessly stirs the viewer's imagination.
The vertically elongated rectangular form is equally striking. Rather than being strictly vertical, its outline features a very gentle waist-like curve. This subtle line imparts an organic softness to the hardness of the porcelain.
A thoroughly modern art piece where serenity and mysterious warmth coexist. Displaying a single blossom elevates its beauty even further, while merely placing it in a room breathes a dreamlike aura into the space. We invite you to experience the memories of "Distant Days," imbued by the hands of master Takegoshi, in your own home.
Title of Work: Flower Vase Overglaze Enamel "Distant Days"
Dimensions: Top 10.5 cm sq. (Base 15 cm sq.) × H 33.5 cm
Box Type: Wooden box with cord (Kiribako)
Takegoshi Kazunori
A Master of Overglaze Enamel Pioneering Contemporary Kutani: A Unique Blue Imbued with Memories of the Silk Road
Born as the fifth-generation head of the Shoza Kiln—tracing its lineage back to Kutani Shoza, one of the most celebrated masters of Kutani ware—Kazunori Takagoshi was raised in a family dedicated to the art of overglaze enameling. Centering his career around prestigious exhibitions such as the Nitten (Japan Fine Arts Exhibition) and the Japan Contemporary Crafts Exhibition, he has forged a distinctive style of overglaze expression rooted in the traditional Kutani Gosai (five-color palette).
Captivated by the luminous blue skies and architecture of Samarkand, Uzbekistan, during his journey along the Silk Road in 1995, Takagoshi made the "Faraway Days" series his lifelong artistic endeavor. His signature "Samarkand Blue"—a seamless fusion of exotic Central Asian motifs and intricate traditional Kutani enameling—is widely acclaimed as fine contemporary art that transcends the boundaries of traditional craft. In fiscal 2024 (Reiwa 6), he was awarded the Japan Art Academy Prize, one of the highest honors for a ceramic artist in Japan, for his masterpiece "Vessel of the Moon: The Return Journey."
Biography
| 1956 (Showa 31) |
Born in Nomi City, Ishikawa Prefecture. Fifth-generation master of the Shoza Kiln, inheriting the tradition of Zenpei Takagoshi, who trained under the master artisan Kutani Shoza. |
|---|---|
| 1979 (Showa 54) |
Graduated from Kanazawa College of Art, majoring in Ceramics. |
| 1980 (Showa 55) |
Selected for the Nitten Exhibition for the first time (subsequently won the Tokusen Special Award twice and served as a judge five times). |
| 1981 (Showa 56) |
Selected for the Japan Contemporary Crafts Exhibition for the first time (subsequently received five awards and served as a judge eight times). |
| 1986 (Showa 61) |
Awarded the Crafts Grand Prize at the Ishikawa Crafts Exhibition. |
| 1988 (Showa 63) |
Selected to exhibit at the Singapore Festival of Arts. |
| 1995 (Heisei 7) |
Won the Grand Prix at the Traditional Kutani Ware Crafts Exhibition. Traveled the Silk Road and visited the Republic of Uzbekistan, establishing the "Faraway Days" series as his lifelong work. |
| 1998 (Heisei 10) |
Selected to exhibit at the "100 Years of Kutani Ware" exhibition in Paris. |
| 2007 (Heisei 19) |
Revisited the Republic of Uzbekistan; exhibited at the Tashkent Biennale. |
| 2012 (Heisei 24) |
Selected as one of the "Twenty Artists Carrying the Future of Fine Arts and Crafts" (Ribun Shuppan). |
| 2014 (Heisei 26) |
Awarded the Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology Award at the Japan Contemporary Crafts Exhibition. |
| 2019 (Reiwa 1) |
Awarded the Prime Minister's Award at the Japan Contemporary Crafts Exhibition. |
| 2020 (Reiwa 2) |
Recommended exhibitor at the Mokichi Okada Award Exhibition (MOA Museum of Art). |
| 2021 (Reiwa 3) |
Selected to exhibit at "Kōgei 2020: The Nature and Form of Beauty" (Tokyo National Museum). |
| FY2024 (Reiwa 6) |
Awarded the 81st Japan Art Academy Prize for his work "Vessel of the Moon: The Return Journey." |
| Present | Member of Nitten; Director of the Japan Contemporary Arts and Crafts Association; Standing Councilor of the Ishikawa Art Culture Association; Director of the Ishikawa Ceramic Artists Association. |
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Free shipping anywhere in Japan. Safe and secure delivery via Yu-Pack.
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We deliver to major countries. Orders up to 200,000 yen (excluding tax) can be shipped. Shipping costs will be calculated separately after your order is placed.
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We also accept orders for plates and wooden tags (for a fee), making them a special, one-of-a-kind gift.