Tokuda Yasokichi III was one of the world’s most celebrated Kutani ceramic artists. Born in Komatsu, he was designated a Living National Treasure in 1997 in recognition of his mastery of the saiyū glaze technique. Building upon the traditional colored glaze enamels of Kutani ware, Yasokichi III developed a highly original artistic language distinguished by delicate gradations of color and luminous contrasts.
He inherited and refined techniques passed down through generations of the Tokuda family. His grandfather, Tokuda Yasokichi I (1873–1956), taught him Kokutani-style glazing methods and was himself recognized by the Japanese government as a Living National Treasure for his mastery of Kutani enameling. His father, Tokuda Yasokichi II (1907–1997), further instructed him in modern ceramic techniques derived directly from the teachings of Tomimoto Kenkichi(1886–1963).
Despite his deep grounding in tradition, Yasokichi III grew dissatisfied with the limitations of conventional polychrome enameling:
“Kutani ware was adorned with motifs that matched the aesthetics of the period, whether Chinese landscape scenes or birds-and-flowers designs in the Kano school manner. Why should I not be similarly attracted to the abstract expressionism of the present day?”
Driven by this conviction, Yasokichi III undertook years of rigorous experimentation. Using only four of the five traditional Kokutani enamel colors passed down by the Tokuda family—cobalt blue, purple, green, and yellow—he succeeded in creating more than two hundred distinct shades of glaze colorants. Red enamel, which lacks a glass component, was considered unsuitable for his purposes and was therefore excluded from his palette.
From these four colors, Yasokichi III produced works of extraordinary depth and brilliance. Through his saiyū glaze technique, he achieved subtle gradations, atmospheric surfaces, and jewel-like luminosity that transformed Kutani ware into a modern abstract art form while remaining deeply connected to its historical roots.
Throughout his career, Yasokichi III received numerous honors and awards. His works were accepted into the Issui-kai Pottery and Porcelain Exhibition in 1958, and he later received major distinctions including the Japan Traditional Art Crafts Association Chairman’s Award (1977), the Grand Prize at the International Pottery and Porcelain Exhibition (1990), and the Medal with Purple Ribbon awarded by the Emperor of Japan in 1993.
Selected Exhibitions
2025 Asia Week New York, US
2020 Asia Week New York, US
Palm Beach Modern + Contemporary, Palm Beach, US
2015 SOFA Chicago, Illinois, US
2014 Contemporary Japanese Ceramics, Embassy of Japan, Washington D.C., US
2007 Crafting Beauty in Modern Japan, British Museum, London
Selected Public Collections
The Metropolitan Museum of Art | New York
The British Museum | London
Victoria & Albert Museum | London
Smithsonian Institute | Washington D.C.
Indianapolis Museum of Art | Indiana, U.S.