Touching Stone Japanese pottery, ceramics, & sumi-e Gallery

Yoshitaka Hasu - Contemporary Iga Pottery

Yoshitaka Hasu (b. 1949) was educated as an engineer before taking up an apprenticeship with renowned potter Shiro Banura, where he learned discipline and developed artistic freedom to create his unique personal style.

During his career, Hasu has produced some of the most exciting original work built upon the Iga tradition. He works like a sculptor. Using a technique called kurinuki, he carves out exterior forms and scoops out the interiors, paring away anything superfluous to distill out the strongest lines unique for each piece. His works are powerful, direct and dynamic. Another hallmark of Hasu’s work is the dramatic decorations created by combining beautiful natural ash glaze with black iron glaze, a process that requires sequential firing and intimate knowledge of the materials.

Despite the stylistic difference, Hasu’s work is true to his mentor’s vision. One of Hasu's favorite forms - the toubako (ceramic box) - embodies the idea of living with art. Hasu has elevated the toubako form to unique works of art that serve a dual function as serving containers. Imagine the drama of serving fine food in such a work of art, and the joy of opening the container to find unexpected beauty within! Perhaps more than any other ceramic form, Hasu’s toubako captures his mentor Banura’s vision and spirit.

Click on image to view selected piece

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Toubako 'Tower' 01 (2012)
8-layered wood-fired ceramic boxes
5.25" x 5.75" x 18.25"h (2 views)
$2,000

Toubako 02 (2014)
4-layered wood-fired ceramic boxes
9.5" x 6.5" x 7.5"h (2 views)
Sold

Toubako 03 (2015)
6-layered wood-fired ceramic boxes
5.75" x 6.75" x 11.25"h (2 views)
Sold

Toubakoo04 (2013)
Wood-fired ceramic box
7.25" x 7" x 6.25"h (2 views)
$950

Toubako 05 (2012)
Wood-fired ceramic box
6.5" x 7" x 5"h (2 views)
Sold

Toubako 06 (2012)
Wood-fired ceramic box
7" x 6.5" x 4.5h (2 views)
$750

Toubako 07 (2014)
Wood-fired ceramic box
7.25" x 7.25" x 6.25h (2 views)
Sold

Toubako 08 (2014)
Wood-fired ceramic box
7.25" x 8.25" x 5h (2 views)
$850

Toubako 09 (2014)
Wood-fired ceramic box
9.75" x 3.5" x 3.5h (2 views)
$750

Toubako 010 (2014)
Wood-fired ceramic box
5.25" x 5" x 5.25h (2 views)
$550

Vase 011 (2014)
Wood-fired ceramic vase
10" x 10" x 9.25"h (2 views)
Sold

Vase 012 (2013)
Wood-fired ceramic vase
8" x 7" x 7"h (2 views)
$1,000

Vase 013 (2013)
Wood-fired ceramic vase
3" x 2.75" x 13.25h (2 views)
Sold

Vase 014 (2015)
Wood-fired ceramic vase
11.5" x 10" x 6.25"h (2 views)
Sold

Vase 015 (2014)
Wood-fired ceramic vase
5.5" x 5.25" x 8.75"h (2 views)
Sold

Toubako 016 (2014)
Wood-fired ceramic box
4" x 4" x 6.25"h (2 views)
$550

Toubako 017 (2014)
Wood-fired ceramic box
10" x 6.5" x 7"h (2 views)
Sold

Exhibitions
1949 Born in Sasebo, Nagasaki Prefecture
1975 Started 4-years apprenticeship with Shiro Banura
1979 Established own kiln and studio in Iga
1982 First solo exhibition, Yokohama Takashimaya Art Gallery, Yokohama
1983 Solo exhibition, Gallery Tenjin, Fukuoka
1984 Solo exhibition, Gallery Tenjin, Fukuoka
1986 Solo exhibition, Gallery Kuroda Touen, Tokyo
1987 Solo exhibition, Tokyo Takashimaya Art Gallery, Tokyo
         Solo exhibition, Osaka Takashimaya Art Gallery, Osaka
         Solo exhibition, Sun Gallery Sumie, Nagoya
1988 Solo exhibition, Tokyo Takashimaya Art Gallery, Tokyo
         Solo exhibition, Yokohama Takashimaya Art Gallery, Yokohama
         Solo exhibition, Gallery Tenjin, Fukuoka
         Solo exhibition, Gallery Akiyama, Kurume
1989 Solo exhibition, Tokyo Takashimaya Art Gallery, Tokyo
         Solo exhibition, Osaka Takashimaya Art Gallery Osaka
1990 Solo exhibition, Tokyo Takashimaya Art Gallery, Tokyo
         Solo exhibition, Sun Gallery Sumie, Nagoya
         Solo exhibition, Gallery Kagura, Mie
1991 Solo exhibition, Tokyo Takashimaya Art Gallery, Tokyo
         Solo exhibition, Osaka Takashimaya Art Gallery
         Solo exhibition, Fukuya Art Gallery, Hiroshima
1992 Solo exhibition, Tokyo Takashimaya Art Gallery, Tokyo
         Solo exhibition, Sun Gallery Sumie, Nagoya
1993 Solo exhibition, Osaka Takashimaya Art Gallery, Osaka
1994 Solo exhibition, Tokyo Takashimaya Art Gallery, Tokyo
         Solo exhibition, Gallery Hanamitsu, Osaka
1996 Solo exhibition, Tokyo Takashimaya Art Gallery, Tokyo
         Solo exhibition, Osaka Takashimaya Art Gallery
         Solo exhibition, Sun Gallery Sumie, Nagoya 1997
         Solo exhibition, Gallery Tachikichi, Kyoto
         Solo exhibition, Gallery Blanche, Osaka
1998 Solo exhibition, Gallery Tachikichi, Osaka
         Solo exhibition, Gallery Shun, Tokyo
         Solo exhibition, Gallery Kochuraku, Kagoshima
1999 Solo exhibition, Osaka Takashimaya Art Gallery, Osaka
         Solo exhibition, Gallery Ayame, Shizuoka
         Solo exhibition, Gallery Yuuan, Nara
         Solo exhibition, Gallery Tenjin, Fukuoka
2000 Solo exhibition, Sun Gallery Sumie, Nagoya
         Solo exhibition, Gallery Tousei, Kyoto
         Solo exhibition, Gallery Candide, Tokyo
2001 Solo exhibition, JR Nagoya Takashimaya Art Gallery, Nagoya
         Solo exhibition, Gallery Kochuraku, Kagoshima
         Solo exhibition, Gallery Aoyagi, Niigata
2002 Solo exhibition, Osaka Takashimaya Art Gallery, Osaka
         Solo exhibition, Sun Gallery Sumie, Nagoya
         Solo exhibition, Gallery Ayame, Shizuoka
2003 Solo exhibition, Gallery Yufuku, Tokyo
         Solo exhibition, Gallery Issouan, Okazaki
2004 Solo exhibition, JR Nagoya Takashimaya Art Gallery, Nagoya
         Solo exhibition, Gallery Junikagetsu, Fukuoka
         Solo exhibition, Gallery Tousei, Kyoto
         Solo exhibition, Gallery Nakanishi, Yokohama
         Solo exhibition, Gallery Kochuraku, Kagoshima
2005 Solo exhibition, Osaka Takashimaya Art Gallery, Osaka
         Solo exhibition, Sun Gallery Sumie, Nagoya
         Solo exhibition, Gallery Toukurou, Hyougo
         Solo exhibition, Gallery Touka, Fukuoka
         Solo exhibition, Seigendo, Sapporo
2006 Solo exhibition, Gallery Nono, Toyama
         Solo exhibition, Gallery Touan, Osaka
         Solo exhibition, Gallery Ayame, Shizuoka
         Solo exhibition, Gallery Tousei, Kyoto
         Solo exhibition, Gallery Teisokuan, Mie
2007 Solo exhibition, Gallery Kochuraku, Kagoshima
         Solo exhibition, Gallery Nono, Toyama
         Solo exhibition, Touching Sone Gallery, Santa Fe, USA
         Solo exhibition, JR Nagoya Takashimaya Art gallery, Nagoya
         Solo exhibition, Gallery Touka, Fukuoka
         Solo exhibition, Gallery Hana, Ehime
2008 Solo exhibition, Gallery Nono, Toyam
         Solo exhibition, Gallery Hanamitu, Osaka
         Solo exhibition, Touching Stone Gallery, Santa Fe, USA
         Solo exhibition, Gallery Natatani, Kyoto
         Solo exhibition, Osaka Takashimaya Art Gallery, Osaka
2009 Solo exhibition, Sun Gallery Sumie, Nagoya
         Solo exhibition, Gallery Nono, Toyama
         Solo exhibition, Touching Stone Gallery, Santa Fe, USA
         Solo exhibition, Gallery Touka, Fukuoka
         Solo exhibition, Gallery Hana, Ehime
         Solo exhibition, Gallery Teisouann, Mie
2009 Solo exhibition, Gallery Nakatani, Kyoto
2010 Solo exhibition, Gallery Hana, Ehime
         Solo exhibition, Gallery Nono, Toyama
         Solo exhibition, JR Nagoya Takashimaya Art gallery, Nagoya
         Solo exhibition, Gallery Touan, Osaka
2011 Solo exhibition, Gallery Hanamitu, Osaka
         Solo exhibition, Gallery Nono, Toyama
         Solo exhibition, Touching Stone Gallery, Santa Fe, USA
         Solo exhibition, Sun Gallery Sumie, Nagoya
         Solo exhibition, Gallery Touka, Fukuoka
         Solo exhibition, Osaka Takashimaya Art Gallery, Osaka
2012 Solo exhibition, Gallery Masukyu, Yamagata
         Solo exhibition, Gallery Wearch, Hyougo
         Solo exhibition, Gallery Nono, Toyama
         Solo exhibition, Gallery Touan, Osaka
2013 Solo exhibition, Gallery Kochuraku, Kagoshima
         Solo exhibition, Gallery Nono, Toyama
         Solo exhibition, JR Nagoya Takashimaya Department Store Art Gallery, Nagoya
         Solo exhibition, Gallery Teisokuan, Mie
2014 Solo exhibition, Gallery Nono, Toyama
         Solo exhibition, Gallery Touka, Fukuoka
         Solo exhibition, Gallery Deco, Mie
         Solo exhibition, Isetan department Store Art Gallery, Tokyo
         Solo exhibition, Ishihara-sou, Kagoshima
         Solo exhibition, Gallery Wearch, Hyougo
         Solo exhibition, Gallery Ayame, Shizuoka
2015 Solo exhibition, Osaka Takashimaya Department Store Art Gallery, Osaka
         Invited guest artist, North Carolina Potters Conference Invitational Exhibition ((lecture & demonstration), Asheboro, North Carolina, USA
         Solo exhibition, Gallery Nono, Toyama
         Solo exhibition (online), Touching Stone Gallery, Santa Fe, New Mexico, USA

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