[Saga Tamaya] "BEYOND THE BIZEN" to be held from April 15 (Wed).

Saga Tamaya (Headquarters: 2-5 Nakanokoji, Saga City, Saga Prefecture, President & CEO: Yuto Yamakoshi) will hold "BEYOND THE BIZEN" for six days from Wednesday, April 15, 2026, to Monday, April 20, at the South Building 7th floor event hall.

Bizen ware boasts over a thousand years of history. Its natural expressions, created solely with clay and fire without glaze, have been passed down as unique beauty. This exhibition introduces the charm of new Bizen ware born from contemporary sensibility while cherishing tradition.

Furthermore, during the exhibition period, participating artists such as Masahiro Miyao and Genan Okuno are scheduled to visit. This is a valuable opportunity to hear directly from the artists about their creative backgrounds and philosophies. Please take this opportunity to view a wide range of Bizen ware, from traditional works to pieces that fascinate with new techniques and forms, and vessels that complement daily life.

History of Bizen Ware

Bizen ware is one of Japan's representative ceramics, with a history dating back to the Kamakura period. Kilns have gathered and developed around Imbe, Bizen City, Okayama Prefecture. During the Momoyama period, it was loved by Toyotomi Hideyoshi, Sen no Rikyu, and Furuta Oribe, establishing its reputation through high acclaim as tea ceramics.

Its roots are even older, believed to stem from Sue ware fired under the influence of the Korean Peninsula and mainland China during the Kofun period. Through the continuous ingenuity and accumulated techniques of potters, it has evolved into the Bizen ware of today.

Bizen ware has inherited the primitive firing method of baking solely with clay and fire, without glaze, to the present day. The natural scenery created by firing with high-quality clay for over two weeks is also called the "Art of Fire," and no two pieces are exactly alike. Works from the Kamakura period are called "Ko-Bizen" and are still highly valued today.

Additionally, it is said to have characteristics such as being "hard to break even if thrown," "water does not easily spoil," and "sake tastes mellow," making its high practicality one of its attractions. The diverse expressions created through firing are also deeply connected to the aesthetic consciousness of "wabi-sabi."

Featured Artists and Works

Masahiro Miyao

Biography

1970 Born in Fukuoka Prefecture

1995 Studied under Yuichi Yamamoto, an Intangible Cultural Property holder of Okayama Prefecture

2003 Awarded Excellence Prize at the 20th "Chano-yu no Zokei" Exhibition

2006 Awarded Japan Crafts Association Chairman's Prize at the 53rd Japan Traditional Crafts Exhibition

2014 Awarded Excellence Prize at the 31st "Chano-yu no Zokei" Exhibition

2019 Awarded Tabe Art Museum Grand Prize at the 36th "Chano-yu no Zokei" Exhibition

2022 Awarded Yohei Kaneshige Prize at the Japan Traditional Crafts Chugoku Branch Exhibition

2023 Awarded Japan Crafts Association Chairman's Prize at the Traditional Crafts Ceramics Division Exhibition

Work

Flower Vase (Width 12.5 x Depth 13.8 x Height 39.7 cm) 165,000 yen

Genan Okuno

Biography

1972 Born in Takatsuki City, Osaka Prefecture 1993 Graduated from Osaka University of Arts Osaka College of Art and Design, then apprenticed under Bizen ware artist Teru Okada

1997 Traveled and studied ceramics in Italy (Florence)

1999 Became independent in Kuboi, overlooking the Seto Inland Sea

2001 Built a climbing kiln

2016 Received the honor of collaborative work with Master Sesshu Tenkei of Tendō Daiichi-za

2017 Received the kiln name "Genroku-gama" from his master and was granted official seals; henceforth uses "Genroku" as his pottery name

2019 Solo exhibition at Nihonbashi Mitsukoshi Main Store Art Square

Work

Bizen Fuuin Flower Vase (Width 23 x Height 35 cm) 88,000 yen

Left:

Bizen Yohen Sake Cup (Width 7 x Height 5 cm) 13,200 yen

Right: Bizen Yohen Mentori Tokkuri (Sake Ewer) (Width 9 x Height 12.5 cm) 22,000 yen

Kenyuki Nakamoto

Biography

1975 Born in Hiroshima Prefecture 1999 Graduated from Kurashiki University of Science and Arts 2009 Selected for the Japan Traditional Crafts Exhibition, received the Governor of Hokkaido Prize and Grand Prize at the Ootaki Hokkaido Ceramics Exhibition, and the Prefectural Exhibition Prize at the Okayama Prefectural Art Exhibition

2012 Received the Hiroshima Prefectural Governor's Prize at the Japan Traditional Crafts Chugoku Branch Exhibition 2014 Selected for the New Artist Development "i" Prize Final Exhibition

2022 Selected for the Toubi Exhibition (subsequently 2023, 2025) 2023 Selected for the Arita International Ceramics Exhibition (subsequently 2024, 2025) 2024 Fuorisalone at Milano Design Week (Milan, Italy), Exposition L'art millénaire des céramiques de Bizen (Picasso Museum, France)

Work

griffon (Width 36 x Depth 43 x Height 62 cm)

528,000 yen

Mai Hiejima

Biography

1998 Born in Ibaraki Prefecture

2022

Selected for the Japan Traditional Crafts Chugoku Exhibition (subsequently 2023, 2024)

Selected for the Okayama Prefectural Art Exhibition (subsequently 2025)

2023

Graduated from Kurashiki University of Science and Arts

Selected for the "Current Form of Ceramics Hagi Grand Prize Exhibition" VI

2024

Selected for the Tabe Art Museum Grand Prize "Chano-yu no Zokei" Exhibition

Selected for the Arita International Ceramics Exhibition (subsequently 2025)

Awarded Encouragement Prize at the Okayama Prefectural Art Exhibition Exhibited at L'art des céramiques de Bizen et Mushiage (Lazaret-Ollandini, Corsica) 2025

Awarded NHK Hiroshima Station Director's Prize at the Japan Traditional Crafts Chugoku Exhibition

Work

Mon-mon Flower Vase (Width 26 x Depth 38 x Height 29 cm)

286,000 yen

Jun Isesaki (Commemorating the Award of the Order of Cultural Merit)

Work

Kurokaku Hana-ike (Black Square Flower Vase) (Width 8 x Depth 8 x Height 23.4 cm)

660,000 yen

*All prices include tax.

Artist Appearance Schedule

【Masahiro Miyao】April 15 (Wed)

【Genan Okuno】April 17 (Fri) / April 18 (Sat)