Kawaguchi Hozan (1899–1962) – Innovator of Refined Banko Ware
Kawaguchi Hozan (born Kawaguchi Shozo in 1899) was a Japanese ceramic artist known for his pursuit of individuality and artistic expression in pottery. He was the second son of Kawaguchi Heikichi, a kiln owner in Shigaraki, Shiga Prefecture, and later adopted the art name Hozan.
Initially, Hozan worked at a ceramics workshop in Kawaramachi, Yokkaichi, but left in search of greater creative freedom. He established his own kiln in Hamaisshiki-chō within the same city, though early success eluded him, and he spent more than a decade working modestly as a potter.
At the age of 34, driven by a desire to create a new form of Banko ware, he built another kiln in Higashimachi and formally began working under the name Hozan. His works came to be known as "Aka-Banko" (Red Banko)—a distinctive style that fused the earthy charm of Shigaraki ware with the refined techniques of traditional Banko ware, aiming to elevate the craft into a higher-grade form of ceramic art.
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