Tokuda Yasokichi was taught the art of Kutani color overglazed enamel from his grandfather (Tokuda Yasokichi I) and modern ceramics from his father (Tokuda Yasokichi II).
As an artist, however, he was not satisfied with the traditional and limited ways of using Kutani colors, and so he experimented with more than 200 different kinds of glazes, creating a number of unique works with gradations of new colors.
In 1997, Yasokichi was designated a National Living Treasure of Japan for his Saiyu glaze (gradation color glaze) and he went on to create a numbers of these polychrome works.
This exhibition shows about 72 of Yasokichi's pieces as well as some by his grandfather and father; till Sept. 19.
MOA Museum of Art; (0557) 84-251; 26-2, Momoyama-cho, Atami-shi; 8-min by bus from Atami Station, JR Tokaido Line. 9:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. ¥1,600. Closed Thu. www.moaart.or.jp.
