Ryuji Hodaka (1976～) entered the world of pottery from a successful career as a chef of Japanese cuisine. During 16 years of cooking he had an opportunity to work for the household of the Japanese Ambassador to Spain. There he had the honour to serve food to such illustrious guest as His Majesty the Emperor of Japan, when he visited the Japanese Embassy in Madrid as Crown Prince in 2001 .

To complement the creative process of cooking he included the tableware into the process as he felt it necessary that food and the pots it is served on create an harmonious impression.

From this point he finally decided to become a potter when he was 34.

From 2013 he frequently held solo exhibitions in Japan and during this time he made it his goal to create one chawan every day of his life. By the time this article is written he has created more than 3000 chawan.

Hodaka's work reflects his unique career and is highly appreciated to bring out what is served on. His work includes Oribe, Ash glazes, Iron glazes amongst other sophisticated techniques and materials.

Originally from Korea, Kim-sensei has been refining his pottery skills in Mashiko for over 20 years and has more than 30 years of experience as a ceramic artist.

Biography

Artist Introduction

Before the invention of the electric pottery wheel, kick wheels were used for centuries. Working with a kick wheel requires exceptional skill, balance, and concentration. Kim-sensei has mastered these traditional techniques, which are rarely practiced today, and he will demonstrate these remarkable skills during his workshop.

He continues to preserve this important craft tradition, using the kick wheel to create large vases and Korean onggi stoneware vessels, traditionally used for food storage and fermentation.

Although he is not widely known outside ceramic circles, Kim-sensei is a true master of large-scale onggi making. He is capable of building impressive vessels entirely by hand using the coil technique, while also producing functional pottery of outstanding quality. His sculptural works reveal a distinctive sense of humor, freedom, and creativity that reflect both his technical mastery and artistic personality.

BORN: 1950 in Tokyo, Japan
RESIDES: Mashiko, Japan

Ken Matsuzaki is a world-renowned ceramic artist and one of the most distinguished contemporary potters working in Japan today. He studied under Tatsuzo Shimaoka, a designated Living National Treasure and holder of the Important Intangible Cultural Property for ceramic arts. Under Shimaoka’s guidance, Matsuzaki Sensei learned the traditions of Mashiko pottery, which flourished through the Japanese Mingei (folk craft) movement.

Born in Tokyo, Ken Matsuzaki graduated from the Department of Ceramic Art at Tamagawa University’s School of Fine Arts in 1972. Following his graduation, he moved to Mashiko, where he completed a five-year apprenticeship under Shimaoka before establishing his own kiln, Yuushin-gama (Yushin Kiln), in Mashiko, Tochigi Prefecture.

While deeply rooted in the philosophy and traditions of Mingei, Matsuzaki Sensei developed a highly individual and contemporary artistic voice. His work is particularly celebrated for its dynamic use of Oribe, Shino, and Yohen glazes, combining traditional techniques with bold forms and expressive surfaces.

Matsuzaki Sensei’s reputation extends far beyond Japan. His works have been exhibited internationally, including in New York, Boston, and the United Kingdom, earning him recognition among collectors and ceramic enthusiasts worldwide.

Among the wide range of ceramics created by Matsuzaki Sensei, his Anagama Yohen pieces are especially admired. Fired in a traditional wood-burning anagama kiln, these works display dramatic and unpredictable surface effects created naturally by flame, ash, and heat during the firing process. The resulting textures and colors embody both the power of nature and the spontaneity that define Matsuzaki Sensei’s distinctive artistic vision.