2nd ONIMARU, Hekizan

Takatori ware from Toho village, Fukuoka, Japan

ONIMARU, Hekizan（鬼丸碧山）is a ceramic artist who was born in 1972 in Toho village, Asakura district in Fukuoka prefecture. His grandfather is the 1st ONIMARU, Setsuzan（鬼丸雪山）, the 2nd is his father as 1st Hekizan and he is the successor as the 3rd generation. The history of his pottery, Takatori ware, started when KURODA, Nagamasa brought back the potter Hachizan to the kiln at the foot of Mt. Takatori, Naokata city in Fukuoka prefecture during the time period of 1592-1598.

He inherited the attitude of his grandfather’s “crafting” who opened the kiln in Koishihara, Toho village. The name “Hekizan” was given by the teacher TAKADA（高田明浦） of Daitokuji temple（大徳寺.） He has been making efforts to establish the modern Takatori ware on its traditional basis and history.

Old Takatori ware in the early stage was a kind of bold design, but it became neat and characterized by thin crops by “beautiful rust” which is the aesthetic sense of Enshu. Then after that its style became more delicate with the influence by Koishihara ware of the folk kiln. Takatori ware, which has a nearly 400 years history, has been loved by people as a tea ceremony tool. Takatori ware characteristics are its thinness and tint of glaze.

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