[Nakagawa Jōeki]
One of the Senke Jissoku, “The Ten Craftsmen of the House of Sen”. He was Kanamono-shi, metalware artist. Metalwares were used for tea ceremony. Since the second generation, the master called himself Nakagawa Jōeki.
- First Generation: Shōeki (1559-1522)
His ancestor was from Takada-gun in Echizen-koku (today’s Niigata prefecture, the north of central Japan, facing the Japan sea). His real name was Shōkō. He was commonly known as Yojūro. His family business was arms and weapon casting. He quitted his family business and started manufacturing bronze and iron wares such as Hibashi, iron-made chopsticks for Irori, a floor built-in hearth, and Kan, metal rings. At Kitano Grand Tea Ceremony, Rikyu ordered him to create Yakan “Tea kettle”, and his craftsmanship was approved. His first name Shō was changed to Jō, and since the second generation, the generation masters have been using the name Jōeki.
- Second Generation: Jōeki (1593-1670)
His name was Shigetaka, and he was commonly called Tabe’e. He was the eldest son of the first generation Shōeki. From 1624 to 1644, he created metalwares for Kōshin, the fourth generation tea master of Omotesenke “Front Sen family”. He also enjoyed a favor of Kanamori Sōwa, the original founder-master of Sōwa-ryu tea style.
Third Generation: Jōeki (1642-1718)
His name was Hidefusa. He was commonly called Chojuro, and later changed to Tabe’e. He was the eldest son of the second-generation master. It is said that he accomplished in imitating Nanban Sahari, South-East Asian Style alloy.
- Forth Generation: Jōeki (1658-1761)
His name was Shigetada. He was commonly called Genkichi, and later he changed to Tomohisa. He lived long, and it is said he died at the age of 104.
- Fifth Generation: Jōeki (1724-1791)
His name was Yorishige. He was commonly called Kichi’emon. He was the third son of the forth generation master. The eldest son of the forth generation died before succeeding the heir, thus the third son became the generation master. After the fifth generation master, the common name Kichi’emon was also used for succession.
- Sixth Generation: Jōeki (1766-1833)
His real name was Yorikata. He was the eldest son of the fifth generation master. He offended Sotsutakusai, the eighth generation tea master of Omotesenke and he was forbidden to work for Omotesenke. In the time of Ryōryōsai, the ninth generation tea master, he was forgiven and once again started receiving orders from Omotesenke. His family business grew tremendously thereafter. He was also a well-known tea practitioner himself, named “Sōsei”.
- Seventh Generation: Jōeki (1796-1859)
His name was Yorizane. He was the eldest son of the sixth generation master. He was well-known as “Igami Jōeki”. It is said that his handwriting was Igami “crooked”. He worked really hard on maintaining his family history and tradition: he reorganized hereditary notebooks many of which had been lost in Tenmei Fire during the time of the sixth generation master, he bound family histories of Fujiwara-Nakagawa and renewed the stone tower dedicated to his ancestors.
- Eighth Generation: Jōeki (1830-1877)
His name was Shōkō. He was the adopted son of the seventh generation.
- Ninth Generation: Jōeki (1849-1911)
His name was Shōhō. He was the eldest son of the eighth generation.
- Tenth Generation: Jōeki (1880-1940)
His name was Shōshin. He was commonly called Junzaburo. He was the eldest son of the ninth generation master.
-Eleventh Generation: Jōeki (1920- present)
His name is Shōshin. He is the eldest son of the tenth generation master.