Chawan Hagi Ware by Artist: Shuen Yoshida

HAGI WARE

Hagi-yaki (萩焼), or Hagi ware, is a regional style of Japanese ceramics that comes from the area around the town of Hagi in Yamaguchi Prefecture, for which it is named. Since its development over 400 years ago, Hagi-yaki remains highly valued within the traditional aesthetics of practically all tea ceremony schools, with some of the oldest Hagi-yaki pieces declared National Treasures of Japan. While it is most well known for its production of teaware and tea ceremony utensils, Hagi masters also produce tableware and sake ware for daily use, and more recently, sculptural art.

ARTIST

Hagien Yoshida (1940-1987), born in Hagi, studied pottery as of age 15 under Kyusetsu Miwa an Important Intangible Cultural Property holder.

In 1968, he became an independent potter in Hagi, building his Hirakikama (kiln) called the “TamaTakashiyamakama”. He tragically died at the young age of 46.