Born in 1961 in Tamba-Sasayama, Hyōgo Prefecture, Ichino grew up in a family of potters in the region of Tamba ware, one of Japan’s Six Ancient Kilns. After studying ceramics in Hiroshima, he returned to his native Tamba, where he trained under his father, the potter Ichino Shinshui, as well as the celebrated contemporary ceramic artist Imai Masayuki. He established his own kiln in 1988.
Ichino first came to national attention in 1995, when his shell-like vessel "Kai" received the Grand Prix at the 13th Japan Ceramics Exhibition, making him the youngest artist at the time to receive the award. Since then, his work has been celebrated in Japan and abroad for its originality, technical strength and sense of form.
While rooted in the landscape of Tamba, one of Japan's six ancient kilns, Ichino has a rare ability to combine the warmth of traditional ware with a bold contemporary sensibility. Whether working with traditional materials such as aka-dobe, a red slip associated with Tamba pottery, or developing highly original forms and subtle surface patterns, he creates ceramics of expansive simplicity and presence.