Minori Yoshita is the 3rd generation of the Kinzangama Kiln, a pottery producing Kutani ware since the Meiji era. He was designated as Living National Treasure for underglaze gold decoration in 2001. For his underglaze gold decorations, Yoshita places gold leaf cut into patterns of flowers and birds onto the base and bakes the vessel. As he uses gold leaf of different thicknesses, the patterns look three-dimensional. While maintaining the traditional techniques, he has been using modern technology since his early days such as the electric kiln. He is striving for innovation to pass on to the next generation, and even in his 90s today, he continues to produce artwork energetically.

Ceramic artist Kazuo Nakada has marked a new phase in the world of traditional Kutani ware by using silver leaf that everyone had been avoiding. As he wanted to express the beauty of silver in his work, he tried using silver leaf instead of gold leaf, and as a result, established his original technique "Yuri ginsai" (underglaze silver). He continues to be active in the front lines as of today, and has been designated as Living National Treasure for "underglaze enamel" in 2025. He cuts silver leaf into beautiful shapes of plants and other various shapes, and embeds them in the vessel with glaze. Its beauty is everlasting.

Kunie Komori is a Living National Treasure and Holder of Important Intangible Cultural Property for "Lacquering". He uses traditional techniques such as rantai (weaving bamboo) and bending work, and applies layers of urushi lacquer carefully to achieve ultimate beauty by forming and urushi lacquering. The woven bamboo creates a lightness and warmth, while the softly curved forms of the pieces made with bending work are simple, yet have a richness and depth.
His outstanding work is highly evaluated in Japan and overseas. He received the Medal with Purple Ribbon in 2006, and in the same year, he held a solo exhibition at the UNESCO headquarters. He is introducing the deep beauty of lacquer art to the world, and currently continues to work as a leading lacquer artist in Japan.

Kazuo Yamagishi works at his studio in Wajima, an area famous for production of lacquerware. He was designated as Living National Treasure for his "Chinkin" techniques, which is inlaying gold powder into the grooves carved on the lacquered surface. The delicate and thin patterns that are barely visible, and the effective lines are all carved by hand. His excellent techniques and artistic expressions are highly evaluated, and in 2005, he received the Praemium Imperiale Award at the Japan Traditional Kōgei Exhibition where the top level artists in Japan gather. He also made a sacred treasure for the Shikinen Sengu (construction of a new shrine) at Ise Jingu. His artwork, using natural motifs of Wajima and created with rich sensibility, charms people of all generations.

Mamoru Nakagawa was enchanted by the artwork of Kaishu Takahashi, metalwork artist from Kanazawa, Ishikawa, and started his career in producing Kaga Inlay. Not only did he succeed the traditional techniques that were nearly lost, but he added his unique modern designs, injecting new life into the traditional art. In 2004, he was designated as Holder of Important Intangible Cultural Property (Living National Treasure) for metal engraving. His artwork has been added to the collections of the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York and the British Museum in London. He has been giving lectures and performing demonstrations worldwide, and is passing on not only the traditional techniques, but also the charm of Kaga Inlay as a whole to the next generation.

Woodwork artist Ryozo Kawakita was designated as Holder of Important Intangible Cultural Property for "Woodwork" (Living National Treasure) in 1994, and is a great master in the woodwork world.
Kawakita selects zelkova, mulberry, maple, black persimmon wood etc. carefully and makes the most of the characteristics of the wood to emphasize the beauty of the wood surface and wood grain. Basically, he uses the wood turning technique, turning the wood on a lathe to carve the wood, and then adds exquisite decorations such as inlays. He combines traditional aesthetic sense with modern sensibility to create graceful pieces of art. He has been honored with many awards including the Medal with Purple Ribbon in 1999, and the Order of the Rising Sun, Gold Rays with Neck Ribbon in 2004.

Ceramic artist Yasokichi Tokuda IV is famous for her Kutani ware using beautiful gradations. She learned the colored glaze gradation techniques from her father, Yasokichi Tokuda III, who was designated as Living National Treasure for colored glaze porcelain techniques, and she succeeded the name Yasokichi Tokuda IV in 2010. While using the colors that have been passed down for generations as the base, she has been breaking new ground by mixing red glazes etc. to add her own color to her artwork. She is highly evaluated in Japan and overseas, and her artworks have been added to the collections of the British Museum (UK) and the Indianapolis Museum of Art (USA).

Yukio Yoshita is the 4th generation of the Kinzangama Kiln, a Kutani ware pottery established in 1906. He received the Prince Takamatsu Memorial Award at the Japan Traditional Kōgei Exhibition, Japan's top class exhibition, in 2010, and has also received many awards at arts and crafts exhibitions held at the Tokyo National Museum and National Museum of Modern Art, Tokyo. etc. Yoshita says that he has added various ideas to the traditional gold-painted porcelain techniques where gold leaf and gold powder is used to create his original artwork. He creates beautiful, gorgeous ceramics by layering colors like watercolor paintings on the cool porcelain. His studio in Ishikawa was damaged by the Noto Peninsula Earthquake in January 2024, but he feels grateful that all 5 of his family members who are ceramic artists were safe and are able to continue making ceramics.

Hiroshi Nakada is a ceramic artist known for ceramics with sophisticated forms and pearlish luster. Although he uses clay for Kutani ware, he does not use the multi-colored overglaze enamels usually used for decorating Kutani ware, but uses his original technique called "Shinju Kosai (pearl luster)" where he draws thin delicate stripe patterns with pearl glaze that create a matte luster. Pearl glaze on the white porcelain base. These two different textures of white create an elegant brilliance that changes depending on the angle you see the vessel from. He received the Tokyo Governor Award at the Japan Traditional Kōgei Exhibition in 2020, and is gaining attention domestically and internationally.

Ceramic artist Yukika Shibata depicts plants and animals with a delicate touch based on sketches using overglaze enamel. Using the traditional five colors of Kutani at the base, she also uses the intermediate and neutral colors that her master, ceramic artist Yoshiaki Yamada uses, and portrays the soft colors in nature on her ceramics.
Shibata says, "I try to harmonize the colors, form and white space when producing my ceramics", and handles the whole process from forming the base to painting by herself.
Keeping a distance from the typical gorgeous Kutani ware, she creates high quality artwork with her fragile yet warm original world of realism.

Ceramic artist Yukifumi Tada has established his unique world of art with the rich tradition of Kutani ware at the base. While bringing out the best in the material such as the texture of the clay, pigments and metal material, he creates original patterns that elevate the artwork from concreteness to abstraction. He creates modern and sophisticated vessels with his original geometric patterns and gold and silver decorations.
His excellent techniques and outstanding creativity has been highly evaluated, and he has received many awards including the Japan Kōgei Association New Artist Award at the 62nd Japan Traditional Kōgei Exhibition in 2015, and the 50th Anniversary Grand Award at the 50th Ceramics Traditional Kōgei Exhibition in 2022.

Ceramic artist Shigemasa Minami uses glaze made from malachite, a mineral, and creates unique, light green based pieces. After working as a tableware pattern designer, he started working as a ceramic artist.
He makes his artwork being inspired by scenes in nature close by, especially animals and plants that he sees in his garden, and draws sensitive yet bold compositions of flowers and birds on flower vases and large plates. The sophisticated colors that he uses is a treat for the eyes. He is highly evaluated for his precise portrayals of animals and plants in his artwork, and was designated as a member of the Kutani Ware Technique Preservation Association, an organization of an Important Intangible Cultural Property of Ishikawa Prefecture in 2010.

Ceramic artist Kazu Yoneda depicts birds and flowers etc. in nature around us in black and white, drawing in black with relaxed brush strokes. Totally different from the bright colored Kutani ware, she created her original sophisticated world of black and white. She creates various pieces from large vessels to adorable pieces such as little cups that fit in the hand and portable tea ceremony sets.
She held a solo exhibition at the Okayama Prefectural Museum of Art in 2023 and her energetic activities are drawing much attention.

Ceramic artist Shoni Tajima studied under Living National Treasure Yasokichi Tokuda III and learned the colored glaze decoration technique that Tokuda established and developed. The colored glaze decoration technique is creating beautiful color change and delicate gradation by applying many layers of glazes and firing. While carrying on this traditional technique, he combines this with his original forms and creates unique and elegant pieces. His excellent artwork has been highly evaluated and added to the collections of well-known museums in Japan and overseas including the National Museum of Modern Art, Tokyo and the Arthur M. Sackler Gallery of the Smithsonian National Museum of Asian Art.

While carrying on the tradition of Kutani ware, ceramic artist Yoshiaki Yamada charms many people with his artwork incorporating a contemporary sense. He adds his original neutral colors to the bright five colors of Kutani ware and creates artwork that makes a gentle and warm atmosphere. One of the greatest charms of his work is the delicate depictions of plants and animals drawn with his excellent drawing skills. The lively brush strokes that make them look as if they are alive soothes the hearts of those see it. His techniques and style have been highly evaluated and his artwork has been purchased by the Imperial Household Agency etc.

Ceramic artist Yukiko Kido is gathering attention for her artwork mainly using underglaze blue, the classic technique of Kutani ware, and her original "soft and minute" painting technique. With a fine brush, she draws strong and weak, dense and light lines, and creates gradation to make ceramics with a delicate and soft touch.
Kido says she tries to make artwork that has a soft and delicate impression but touches people's hearts.
From choosing the material to painting the design, her attention to detail is superb. Her outstanding skills and sensitivity have been highly evaluated, and she was designated as Traditional Craftsman of Kutani ware (decoration) in 2019. She received the Grand Award, Ishikawa Prefecture Governor Award at the 65th Ishikawa Traditional Kōgei Exhibition in 2025, and is gaining high evaluation in Japan and overseas.

Based in Ishikawa, a place full of traditional arts, ceramic artist Yoshie Kitahama has established a unique art style quite different from the traditional style. She creates organic forms by hand and draws geometric patterns with the platinum decoration technique using liquid platinum. She captures the energy and calmness of nature with her unique sensibility and locks in the fleeting beauty in her artwork. The appearance of the artwork changes depending on the angle and light, making it look serene and dreamy.

While carrying on the tradition of Kutani ware, ceramic artist Masato Yashiki creates his artwork using various techniques without being bound by the existing techniques. His sensibility cultivated through music, movies and novels since he was young, brings rich narrative quality to his artwork. Since he started studying under his Kutani ware master, he has been creating ceramics for 50 years and his activities have been wide ranging. He has been highly evaluated at several exhibitions where well-known artists in Japan gather, including the Japan Traditional Kōgei Exhibition, Tobiten, and the Traditional Kutani Ware Art Crafts Exhibition.

Ceramic artist Hiroshi Saita started his career in ceramics with his unique sensibility cultivated through Western paintings. He creates abstract designs mainly with the traditional five colors of Kutani ware. The unique patterns that he draws with dynamic yet delicate lines and bright glazes creates dynamic and rhythmic artworks. His style, fusing tradition with modern designs, has made Kutani ware go beyond the boundaries of traditional crafts and is setting a trend of such crafts to be elevated to contemporary art.

Based on the idea "kimono is fashion", Yuzen artist Ken Yotsui creates kimonos that make those who wear the kimono excited. He designs scenes and plants in nature that he has seen while climbing mountains during his free time, and the excitement that he feels from the mountains with abstract and bold compositions. He handles the whole process of hand-drawn yuzen by himself using the traditional glutinous rice paste. The delicate colors and pictorial descriptions are the charm of his work. While using the traditional techniques of yuzen dyeing, he brought innovation to modern kimonos and textiles with his free-flowing ideas. He has been awarded several times at the Textiles Traditional Kōgei Exhibition where the top textile artists in Japan gather, and is one of the leading textile artists in Japan.

Textile artist Tomoji Ueda studied under the great and famous master of Kaga Yuzen, Jinro Maida after graduating from Kanazawa College of Art. While carrying on the traditional Kaga Yuzen techniques, he established a unique modern style. Using gradation of delicate hand-drawn Yuzen and realistic designs of beauty in nature at the base, his textiles are known for bold compositions and sophisticated colors. His textiles integrating the classical beauty of Kaga Yuzen with modern sensibility are highly evaluated as artistic works that transcend the boundaries of traditional crafts.

While carrying on the traditional hand-drawn Yuzen techniques, textile artist Mamiko Sudo creates innovative designs with her unique sensibility. She gets inspiration for her designs from scenes and plants in nature. The exquisite lines drawn with the fine lines of resist paste and the wide range of harmony of colors are the charms of her textiles. The designs of her textiles look as if the space is expanding and have a three dimensional feel. Her textiles are also highly evaluated as artwork full of pictorial expressiveness and depth.