Bizen Ryugyoku Shishi Houhin

Koji Nakahara studied under Fumio Kawabata and strives to create works that complement contemporary lifestyles. This is a Bizen Ryugyoku Shishi Houhin by the artist.

This piece was fired in the kiln of his teacher, Fumio Kawabata.

Nakahara often says that his hands cannot keep pace with the ideas constantly emerging in his mind, and this Houhin is filled with the kind of imaginative details that characterize his work.

Reflecting Nakahara’s current passion for highly detailed sculptural work, the piece follows the traditional style of Bizen Houhin developed and refined over generations by master craftsmen.

A sculpted Shishi holding a ball or similar object is a classic motif in Bizen Houhin. In this work, however, Nakahara has given the tradition an intriguing twist by combining the Shishi with a “Ryugyoku,” formed from a dragon curled tightly into a spherical shape.

The body of the Houhin is covered in a striking Hai-kaburi kiln effect with a rich gray tone. This subdued surface beautifully emphasizes the intricate sculptural details while also allowing the owner to enjoy the changes that develop through continued use.

Houhin decorated with sculptural figures on their lids can easily become rather heavy. By carefully adjusting both the amount of clay and the overall dimensions, however, Nakahara has kept this piece at a pleasantly balanced weight in the hand.

He was born in Osaka Prefecture in 1978.
He became a disciple of Fumio Kawabata in 2001.
In 2024 he moved to Bizen City.