WHAT'S WHAT
 

Return to What's What A to Z Menu

Bizen Kiln Markings and Bizen Past Greats Kamajirushi are the small markings on pots which identify them to a potter or a production kiln. Almost all craftsman and independent potters, past and present, have a certain stamp or incision that marks the piece as theirs. Some mingei traditions didn't make usage of kamajirushi for they wanted the pots to speak of their makers spirit; the pot being the 'signature.' The most recent and famous example of a non-kamajirushi potter might be that of Hamada Shoji. The first list shows the kamajirushi of some of Bizen's most popular production kilns and the kiln's name. Note: kama (kiln) is read as gama after the name. Tou means a place where people gather and En is a place where 'literary' people gather. The second list shows the kamajirushi of some of Japan's past great Bizen potters. PRODUCTION KILNS KILN NAME KAMAJIRUSHI KILN NAME KAMAJIRUSHI Bishuu-gama Nanzan-gama Bizen Touen Onigashou-gama Gorobe-gama Sanrouku-gama Houkou-gama Santen-gama Ichiyou-gama Shibaoka Tousendou Ippon-matsu-gama Shouzan-gama   Kamamoto Bizen Ichi Shunkoen Kaneshige Ritouen Shouen Kawaguchi Tourakuen Taizan-gama Keishuu-gama Touhaku-gama Kimura Kourakuen Toukedou Konishi Toukou Toushouen Kouraku-gama     POTTER LIST - BIZEN PAST GREATS Some were named Living National Treasures Click here to jump to the Living National Treasures page POTTER/KAMAJIRUSHI/AWARDS POTTER/KAMAJIRUSHI/AWARDS Fujita Ryuho 1913-1973 Okayama Prefectural Intangible Cultural Property 1954 Kaneshige Toyo 1896-1967 Okayama Prefectural Intangible Cultural Property 1954; Living National Treasure 1956 Fujiwara Kei 1899-1983 Okayama Prefectural Intangible Cultural Property 1954; Living National Treasure 1970 Konishi Toko I 1899-1954 Fujiwara Ken 1924-1977 Okayama Prefectural Intangible Cultural Property 1954 Matsuda Kazan I 1902-1948 Fujiwara Rakuzan 1910-1996 Okayama Prefectural Intangible Cultural Property 1954 Mimura Tokei 1885-1956 Okayama Prefectural Intangible Cultural Property 1954 Isezaki Yozan 1902-1961 Okayama Prefectural Intangible Cultural Property 1954 Nishimura Shunko 1886-1953 Ishii Furo 1899-1964 Okayama-ken Prefectural Intangible Cultural Property 1964 Oae Jindo 1890-1954 NA - Okayama-ken Prefectural Intangible Cultural Property Kaneshige Michiaki 1934-1995 NA - Okayama-ken Prefectural Intangible Cultural Property Suzuki Osai 1908-1972 Kaneshige Sozan 1909-1995 NA - Okayama-ken Prefectural Intangible Cultural Property Yamamoto Toshu 1906-1994 Okayama Prefectural Intangible Cultural Property 1954; Living National Treasure 1987 There are whole books devoted to kamajirushi for individual potters such as Kogei Shuppan's Gendai no Tougei East and West and others showing the thousands of marks which have been used throughout the centuries here. A good resource of kamajirushi is essential for any collector or scholar of Japanese pottery. On some auction sites on the Internet I often come across wares showing the kamajirushi, most notably Bizen wares from production kilns. The kilns always have a shop and there are dozens of omiyage (souvenir) shops within a stones throw of Imbe station - Imbe is a part of Bizen city. For the most part they produce cheap uninspired works that are basically intended for the crowds of weekend tourists. Some do make nice things but for the majority it's a turn-the-product-out attitude. No heart and soul - only the sounds of cash registers. Quite a few of these pieces find their ways overseas. Other Kamajirushi Karatsu Kiln Markings Seto Kiln Markings