[Ryuhou HARADA] 1932-
A Hagi ware potter in Bohu city, Yamaguchi prefecture.
Ryuhou was born in Kurashiki-gun, Yamaguchi prefecture and graduated Yamaguchi High School. He refined his skills under Shogan Yamato, a famous Hagi ware potter, then became independent and established his kiln in 1969.
Ryuhou won his first prize at Dai-ichi Exhibition in 1973, and the Silver Prize in 1975. He also won his first prize at Japan Traditional Art Crafts Exhibition in 1989.
Ryuhou is also known as a writer who published 2 book; “Poem of kiln” and “Mystery of Mokuyo-Tenmoku”.
[Hagi ware]
One of the most famous Japanese ceramics produced in Yamaguchi prefecture, that is also called as "Korai ware".
In 1604, the Korean potter brothers, Li Shakuko and Li Kei, were invited to Hagi domain (present Yamagichi) by the feudal load Terumoto MORI. Under the patronage of Mori Terumoto, they established the kiln and produced ceramic which became the origin of Hagiware.
Hagi ware has humble forms and it has firing-denatured patterns/colors. Because it has tiny cracklings on surface , the color of Hagi ware gradually changes as water percolates from inside to outside through cracklings. This unique phenomenon is called "7 changes of Hagi ware".
From ancient times, Hagi ware has been admired by tea masters. There is a saying among them; " Ichi Raku, Ni Hagi, San Karatsu" which means "First-Raku, Second-Hagi, Third-Karatsu".