Sadatsugu Shinjo

• Category
  Ceramics
• Techniques
  Hagi ware
• Born
  1950 -
• Based in
  Yamaguchi
• Membership
  Full member, Japan Kogei Association
  Holder of Intangible Cultural Property of Yamaguchi Prefecture for "Hagi ware"
  Director of Japan Kōgei Association,Secretary General of the Yamaguchi Branch

About the Artist

Applying original techniques to elevate the forms of tea bowls

Hagi ware has been popular for use in tea ceremony. Sadatsugu Shinjo is the 14th Generation of the "Shinjo Sukeemon Kiln" which was established in the beginning of the 17th century when the production of Hagi ware started. The round form of the tea bowls that fit in the hands have been highly valued not only among masters of tea ceremony, but also by ceramic art lovers and researchers. He has submitted his artwork to various exhibitions overseas, and his work has been added to the collection of the British Museum in the UK.

Style

Born and raised in the family line of Sukeemon AKAGAWA, a disciple of Heishiro Mitsutoshi YAMAMURA who moved from Hagi under the order of the feudal domain when a new kiln was built in Sannose of Fukagawa village, Ohtsu in 1657. My family name was changed from Akagawa to Shinjo in the Meiji period.
Graduated from the Graduate School of Tokyo University of the Arts, sculpture major in 1977 and trained at the Kyoto Municipal Institute of Industrial Research before returning to my home town. Became a full member of the Japan Kogei Association in 1983. In my early days I made large sculptural pieces such as voluminous ceramic boxes and plates formed to express space. Entering the 1990s, I started to make more traditional style vessels for tea ceremony. My bowl-shaped, round tea bowls are especially highly valued and are appreciated not only by masters of the tea ceremony, but also by ceramic art lovers and researchers.

Biography

• 1950
  Born as 13th Kanzan SHINJO's eldest son
• 1975
  Graduated from Tokyo University of the Arts, Department of Sculpture
• 1977
  Completed the Master's Course at the Graduate School of Tokyo University of the Arts, Sculpture major
• 1978
  Finished training as a ceramics trainee at the Kyoto City Industrial Test Site (current Kyoto Municipal Institute of Industrial Technology and Culture)
• 1980
  Selected for the 15th West Japan Traditional Kōgei Exhibition
  Selected for the first time at the 27th Japan Traditional Kōgei Exhibition (selected several times from this year onward)
• 1981
  Selected for the West Japan Ceramic Art Exhibition
  Selected for the first time at the Japan Ceramic Art Exhibition (selected several times from this year onward)
• 1983
  Becomes full member of the Japan Kogei Association
  Made ceramic wall art for Paltopia Yamaguchi (Bocho Youth Hall in Yamaguchi City)
• 1990
  Selected for the "Tea Ceremony Art for the Future" Exhibition
• 1991
  Participated in the"Excellent Ceramic Artwork in the Chugoku Region" Exhibition (sponsored by The Chugoku Electric Power Co., Inc)
  Made ceramic wall art "Meet" for the Yamaguchi Prefecture Social Welfare Center in Yamaguchi city
• 1992
  Participated in the Sanyo and Sanin District Contemporary Ceramics Exhibition II:Tradition and Avant-Garde, Higashihiroshima City Museum of Art
• 1993
  Work added to the collection of The British Museum
• 1994
  Made ceramic wall art "Bound and Shine" for Shimonoseki Social Insurance Health Center
• 1995
  Made ceramic wall art "Ritsu" for Ouchi Building in Hiroshima city
• 1996
  Participated in the Sanyo and Sanin District Contemporary Ceramics Exhibition III:Tradition and Avant-Garde, Higashihiroshima City Museum of Art
• 1997
  Fukagawa Hagi 5 Artists’ Exhibition in New York
• 1999
  Interviewed for NHK BS TV program "Yakimono Tanbo"
• 2000
  "Hagi 400 ans de ceramique (Hagiyaki 400 years Anniversary)" exhibition in Paris
• 2001
  "Hagiyaki 400 years Anniversary" exhibition in Tokyo, Kyoto, Fukuoka and Hagi
  Made ceramic wall art "Hana" for Sansuien in Yamaguchi city
• 2002
  Art work purchased by the Imperial Household Agency
  "Artists of Furusato (hometown)" exhibition at Yamaguchi Prefectural Art Museum
• 2003
  Work added to the collection of The National Museum of Modern Art, Tokyo
• 2005
  Participated in the 3rd World Ceramic Biennale international workshop (South Korea)
• 2008
  "Tradition of Hagi Ceramic Art ~Inheritance and Innovation~" exhibition (Hagi Uragami Museum, Yamaguchi)
• 2009
  Held a seminar at the Gyeongsangnam-do Tea Bowl Exhibition (South Korea)
  "Hagi-clan Kilns and Tea Ceremony Implements~Traditional Hagi ware" exhibition (Mohri Museum)
• 2012
  Becomes Executive Board Member of Japan Kogei Association Yamaguchi Branch
• 2016
  Becomes Director of Japan Kogei Association and Secretary General of Japan Kogei Association Yamaguchi Branch
• 2018
  Designated as Holder of Intangible Cultural Property of Yamaguchi Prefecture for "Hagi Yaki"
• 2021
  Received the Order of the Rising Sun, Gold and Silver Rays
• 【Solo Exhibitions】
  Mitsukoshi (Nihombashi, Fukuoka, Takamatsu),
  Takashimaya (Osaka, Kyoto, Yokohama, Gifu, Okayama, Iyotetsu),
  Matsuzakaya (Nagoya, Shizuoka), Daimaru (Kobe, Shimonoseki, Tottori),
  Sogo (Yokohama, Hiroshima, Kawaguchi) , Seibu Department Store,
  Keio Department Store, Kintestu Department Store (Yokkaichi)
  Hamaya Department Store, Tamaya Department Store, Ichibata Department Store etc.

Awards

• 1978
  Received the Governor's Award at the Yamaguchi Prefecture Art Exhibition
• 1982
  Received the Grand Prize at the Yamaguchi Prefecture Art Exhibition
• 1983
  Received the Incentive Award at the West Japan Ceramic Art Exhibition
  Received the Yamaguchi Prefecture Governor Award
  Received the Excellence Award at the Yamaguchi Prefecture Art Exhibition
• 1984
  Received the Excellence Award and the Minister of International Trade and Industry Award at the West Japan Ceramic Art Exhibition
  Received the Incentive Award at the “Arts of the Tea Ceremony” Exhibition (selected several times from this year onward)
  Received the Grand Prize at the Yamaguchi Prefecture Art Exhibition
• 1985
  Received an Honorable Mention at the Yamaguchi Prefecture Art Exhibition
• 1987
  Received the 1st Nagato City Education, Culture and Physical Education Promotion Incentive Award
  Received the Asahi Shimbun Award at the 10th Yamaguchi Traditional Kōgei Exhibition
  Received the Yamaguchi Prefecture Arts and Culture Promotion Award
• 1988
  Received an Honorable Mention at the Yamaguchi Prefecture Art Exhibition
• 1990
  Received an Honorable Mention at the Yamaguchi Prefecture Art Exhibition
• 1991
  Received the Asahi Shimbun Award at the 14th Yamaguchi Traditional Kōgei Exhibition
• 1992
  Received the Memorial Award at the 15th Yamaguchi Traditional Kōgei Exhibition
• 1993
  Received the NHK Yamaguchi Broadcasting Station Award at the 16th Yamaguchi Traditional Kōgei Exhibition
• 1997
  Received the Shimonoseki Mayor Award at the 20th Yamaguchi Traditional Kōgei Exhibition
• 2005
  Received Yamaguchi Prefecture Award for Art and Cultural Merits
• 2017
  Received the NHK Yamaguchi Broadcasting Station Award at the 40th Yamaguchi Traditional Kōgei Exhibition
• 2018
  Received the Branch Manager Award at the 41st Yamaguchi Traditional Kōgei Exhibition

Public Collections

• The British Museum
• The National Museum of Modern Art, Tokyo
• The Japan Foundation
• Yamaguchi Prefectural Art Museum
• Tanabe Museum of Art
• Sogo Museum of Art
• Honolulu Museum of Art
• Higashihiroshima City Museum of Art
• Mohri Museum