[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.

[Toho KIMURA]
A Japanese craftsman and a ceramic artist. Born in Okayama prefecture, in 1927. Name is Tsuyoshi KIMURA.
He had traditional technique of craft products, he made tea utensils, vases, drinking vessels, and standing ornaments with the technique.
He was born on Kimura-ke Toseien (the Kimura Family Pottery). He went to Chuo University, and specialized the Faculty of Law. He succeeded to his father and devoted the family business.

Senior vice-president of Okayama Bizen-yaki Toyukai (the Okayama Bizen wares Association), and a senior vice-president of Okayama Bizen Togei Bijutsukan (the Okayama Bizen wares Potteries and Art Museum).
Another Prizes: The Washington International Good Design Prize and Chinese Ministry of International Trade and Industry business chief of the bureau commendation.
Toshoen, a traditional pottery where he was born, was separated from the Kimura Sohonzan’s house, which was the 6th generation of the Bizen-yaki pottery. In 1913,　Kimura Seiji established Toshoen in 1913. A motto of Toshoen is “Careful selection, eternal tradition, good potteries to age with reasonable price”.