Ceramics Today - Furutani Kazuya

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Featured Artist

Furutani Kazuya
Japanese studio potter

Furutani Kazuya (b. 1976) is the son of Furutani Michio (1946-2000), a Shigaraki potter greatly respected for his work with the anagama, or wood-burning tunnel kiln. Before his death, Michio could lay claim to having the best firings in Shigaraki. Actually, it was Furutani who reintroduced the anagama to Shigaraki since medieval times, and had built more anagama than any other potter during his time (30 since 1970). His studies into anagama led him to write a highly influential book as well. For Furutani each kiln was built with a specific firing effect in mind and it is no exaggeration to say he had the most varied, controlled and amazing yohen effects Shigaraki has ever known. His sudden death in 2000 shocked the ceramic art world.

However, his son Kazuya has spiritedly taken over the kiln of his father/master, and his valiant firings have already labeled Kazuya a master of the anagama, and certainly heir to the throne. A glance at Kazuya's work will quickly call to mind the firings of his father -in many ways, Kazuya has achieved what took his father decades of experimentation to produce. He has learned well from his father, even building his own kilns where all the current works were fired.

Born in Shigaraki, Kazuya went to Shigaraki High School focusing on design. He then studied at the Yamaguchi Art School for 2 years, then the Kyoto Prefecture Ceramic Art School. It was in Kyoto that many told him to hurry back to Shigaraki to be with his ill father. He apprenticed with his father for two and half years, yet much was learned as a youngster by just 'being around' and you'll read an interesting Japanese proverb to illustrate that point in the first link below.

The secret to the Furutani family's pottery is through the Furutani formula of clay processing (they have a cache of the best kinose Shigaraki clay), kiln loading (Michio calls this the most important aspect), and kiln firing -Michio's technique lives on in his son Kazuya. Kazuya has also been studying 'The Way of Tea' for a few years now and plans to introduce chawan next year.

Kazuya is a humble young man yet already has a large following here in Japan. His yearly exhibitions in Tokyo have all been near or full sell-outs. It's easy to see why and we hope you enjoy his warm hi-iro fire colors and intensely beautiful hikidashi pulled out of the kiln Iga pieces with mesmerizing greens.