Isezaki Mitsuru 伊勢崎満 Japanese, 1934-2011
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Isezaki Mitsuru 伊勢崎満 (b. 1934, Bizen, Okayama) is a designated Holder of Important Intangible Cultural Property of Okayama Prefecture and the elder brother of 伊勢崎淳, a Living National Treasure. He was born as the eldest son of Isezaki Yōzan, himself a recognized master craftsman, and was raised within the long-standing tradition of Bizen ceramics.
After studying in the Fine Arts program at Okayama University, Isezaki devoted himself to ceramics, training within the family practice. Together with his younger brother Jun, he played a pivotal role in reconstructing the medieval anagama (tunnel kiln) in Bizen—an important achievement that contributed significantly to the revival and understanding of Ko-Bizen (early Bizen ware).
Central to Isezaki’s work is the mastery of traditional firing techniques, particularly hidasuki—the distinctive linear patterns created by wrapping straw around the clay during firing. This method, passed down from his father, is evident in his tea wares and flower vessels, where surface and form are brought into quiet harmony.
Bizen ware, with origins tracing back to the Kofun period, is one of Japan’s oldest ceramic traditions. Fired at high temperatures without glaze or painted decoration, each piece develops unique surface effects shaped by flame, ash, and the natural properties of the clay. Isezaki’s work embodies this essence, balancing historical continuity with a refined sensitivity to material and process.