Bizen Ko-Tokkuri

This is a Bizen Ko-Tokkuri by Shuroku Harada, a gifted artist who studied Ko-Bizen alongside Matasaburo Katsura, one of the great contributors to Bizen ware. Harada was once described as “formidable in his future potential,” reflecting the extraordinary talent he showed.

A pottery biography up to 2013 (Heisei 25) is included with this piece, and the work is believed to have been made around that time.

This is one of the very late works fired by Harada in his own kiln. It has a powerful natural ash glaze over a heavy clay surface, showing the distinctive firing style of Shuroku Bizen.

The bold firing, filled with the knowledge and techniques he developed through his study of Ko-Bizen, is truly remarkable. Over the yellowish-green Goma characteristic of his later years, there is an additional layer of scorched Goma with a texture reminiscent of rugged rock.

The rich clay texture, another hallmark of Harada’s work, is also outstanding. Its deeply alluring surface gives the impression that, if polished through use with sake over time, it may one day develop a presence surpassing even Ko-Bizen.

This piece was built by the coil-building method and then slowly carved with a spatula. The gently triangular body has a very strong presence when held in the hand.

Although it is a slightly thick and solid Tokkuri, the distinctive carving on the body also makes it easy to hold. The piece beautifully combines a powerful, weighty presence with practical usability.

It remains in the same condition as when it was fired, with no signs of use or staining.

Shuroku Harada
1941–2024
Born in Bizen City, Okayama Prefecture

Shuroku Harada was born in Bizen City, Okayama Prefecture, in 1941.

After graduating from Meiji University, he worked for a company before beginning to make pottery around 1969.

In 1971, he built a small anagama kiln, and in the following year he constructed a climbing kiln, marking the beginning of his full-scale career as a ceramic artist.

From 1975, under the guidance of Ko-Bizen researcher Matasaburo Katsura, Harada visited ancient kiln sites and studied Ko-Bizen ware in depth.

In 1991, he built an anagama kiln on Mount Amida in Ushimado, Okayama.

Harada was especially known for his suribachi bowls. He also created flower vessels, tea wares, and sake wares, mainly using the coil-building method, with some works made on the wheel.

He held solo exhibitions in Tokyo, Osaka, and other locations throughout Japan.

In 1983, he held a two-person exhibition with Kenji Funaki of Fushina ware at the National Museum of Ethnology in Australia.

In 2000, he received the Japan Ceramic Society Award.

In 2002, his work was exhibited at the opening commemorative exhibition of the Museum of Modern Ceramic Art, Gifu, and was added to the museum’s collection.

In 2005, his work was also added to the collection of the New Orleans Museum of Art in the United States.

Shuroku Harada passed away in 2024.