[Waraku KAWASAKI]
He is the 7th head of the Waraku kiln.
Waraku has been devoting himself to raku-yaki (raku wares, a type of Japanese Pottery) since the 2nd Shichibe.
In 1918, Togo Heihachiro came to Kyoto. At the same time, Togo visited the working place of the 7th head of Waraku, and gave him a name of the kiln, “Waraku”.
After that, he succeeded the kiln as “Waraku”.
1936 - He was born as a first son of the 6th Waraku.
1954 - He graduated from Hiyoshigaoka high school. At Kyoto Ceramist Training School he joined to Ceramic Art Course where he learned the art of pottery.
1956 - After graduating from the training school, he generally studied potteries under his father, Shinzo.
1970 - He succeeded the 7th head of Waraku,
1996 - He opened Kanrekiten (Kanreki Exhibition, an exhibition for celebrate one’s 60th birthday) for his works at Daimaru department.
[Raku ware]
Japanese lead-glazed earthenware, originally invented in 16th-century Kyōto. Quite distinct from wares that preceded it, raku represents an attempt to arrive at a new kind of beauty by deliberate repudiation of existing forms. The shape of the vessels is extremely simple: a wide, straight-sided bowl set on a narrow base. Because raku wares are molded entirely by hand, each piece expresses the individuality of the maker's hand; and pieces tend to be unique creations. The glaze colours include dark brown, light orange-red, straw colour, green, and cream etc.