[Bizen Ware]
One style of Japanese pottery that has been made in Bizen city, Okayama prefecture.
Bizen ware is one of "Six Old Kilns of Japan” (Seto/Tokoname/Tanba/Echizen/Shigaraki/Bizen) and it has the oldest pottery making technique, introduced in the Heian period. Unglazed vassals had progressed and Bizen ware got to be made in the north part of Ibe area in Kamakura period. Since then, Bizen ware has been made nearly 1000 years in Bizen area with the traditional methods.
Bizen were kilns located in Uraibe during Muromachi period then moved to Ibe area in Momoyama period. Potters created mainly vases and earthenware mortars in Uraibe though as the progress of culture of tea ceremony in the middle of Muromachi period, they got to make tea utensils under the lead of Daimyos and tea masters. In Edo period, Bizen ware developed more under the protection of Maeda family, the lord of Bizen domain. Edo period was the time when new style of Bizwn ware such as statues of lion/Hotei (one of the Seven Gods of good luck) and incense burners were created as a gifts for the Imperial Court and shoguns. Also many of daily wares/utilities such as sake bottles, water jar and mortars were made and sold in Bizen.
Today, tea utensils, drinking vassals and daily tablewares are mainly produced in Bizen.

Bizen ware is reddish brown color pottery without using any glazes and it has various patterns on surface by Kamahen (results from wood-burning kiln firing). Bizen ware has ironlike hardness because it is burned in a 1200 degree oven for about 2 weeks without glazes.

[Taka’aki KIMURA] 1943-
A Bizen ware potter .
Kimura was born in 1943 as the second son of Ichiyo Kimura, a traditional craftsman of Bizen ware potter in Ibe city.
After his graduation from High School, he learned pottery skills under his father for 12 years, and then became independent and established his kiln in 1974.
He has held his personal exhibitions in Tokyo and Kurashiki city since 1974, and became a regular member of Nihon Kogeikai (the Japan Art Crafts Association) in 1985.
Record of Awards
1971 Won his first prize at the 1st Japan Ceramic Art Exhibition
1973 Won his first prize at the Chunichi International Ceramic Exhibition
1974 The highest prize at the Exhibition of Public Contribution of Japan Art Crafts
1976 Won a prize at the Issuikai Exhibition
1981,1981 Won a prize at the Nihon Kogeikai Chugoku Branch Exhibition