Kasho
Kyoto
The Story
Kashogama is a Kyō-yaki pottery manufacturer that has been creating ceramics for four generations since its founding in 1914. At the age of five, the second generation head was entrusted to the prestigious family of Rakuware and continued his training for fifteen years before taking on the name of Kasho Morioka II in 1937. The third generation head took over at the age of nineteen, and went on to have a number of prestigious solo exhibitions.
His own son Zentaro was born in Kyoto in 1974. From an early age, he helped with the family pottery business, and by the time he was in elementary school, he was working on his own. He graduated from the Department of Ceramics at Kyoto Municipal Doda High School of Art and Crafts, then continued his studies under his father. Besides holding a series of exhibitions together, they began producing gosu blue and white porcelain, five-color tōsai porcelain, and yūrikō underglaze red porcelain at the Jingdezhen Kiln in China in 1995, as well as producing Kinuta celadon and Hangzhou Official celadon at the Longquan Kiln in China the following year.
Zentaro opened the Kashogama Pottery on Sannenzaka in the Kiyomizu area and served as the head instructor at the pottery school. His international work continued in the form of founding a pottery class in San Diego, as well as his researching the fusion of glass and ceramics in Venice, Italy. Zentaro became the fourth generation headmaster upon his father’s passing in 2009. He has since gone on to open a sister studio in neighboring Shiga prefecture in 2020.
Based on the techniques Kashogama has cultivated in their making of tea ceremony utensils, they also create custom-made tableware for hotels, restaurants, and cafes around the country, namely, the Ritz Carlton Kyoto.
Kasho (Zentaro) finds inspiration in the power and beauty of nature. He works by using a variety of raw materials, and looking at things from different angles, in order to find inspiration to create from a new approach. This creativity can also stem from interacting with people from various fields.
His goal is to create works in order to connect with upcoming generations.
The Craft
Located just above Yasaka Pagoda, Kashogama’s gallery shelves are lined with variety of style works. The craftsman visits are guided by Kasho, who will talk about the history of the art and give an introduction to the techniques of his work while serving tea and sweets in a traditional tea room. Upon request, Omotesenke tea master is invited to explain about the tea ceremony.
Also available is the hands-on activity which enables visitors to undertake a pottery experience in a friendly and casual atmosphere. Kasho will provide firsthand instruction, allowing the visitor to create pottery.
Selected works
