− | Hamada Shôji was a notable ceramics artist of the 20th century. Designated a [[Living National Treasure]] by the Japanese government, he was prominent in the ''[[mingei]]'' ("folk crafts") movement of the prewar era. | + | Hamada Shôji was a notable ceramics artist of the 20th century. One of the first potters to be designated a [[Living National Treasure]] by the Japanese government,<ref>Nicole Coolidge Rousmaniere, ''Crafting Beauty in Modern Japan'', University of Washington Press (2007), 12.</ref> he was prominent in the ''[[mingei]]'' ("folk crafts") movement of the prewar era. |
| Hamada began his study of ceramics in Kyoto. In 1938, he accompanied [[Yanagi Soetsu|Yanagi Sôetsu]], [[Kawai Kanjiro|Kawai Kanjirô]], and a number of other ''mingei'' figures on a three-week trip to Okinawa, marking the beginning of his engagement with [[Ryukyuan pottery]]. At one time, he spent some time in Cornwall, England, with potter [[Bernard Leach]], with whom he'd developed a close friendship.<ref>Gallery labels, Metropolitan Museum of Art.[https://www.flickr.com/photos/toranosuke/41752483012/in/dateposted/]</ref> | | Hamada began his study of ceramics in Kyoto. In 1938, he accompanied [[Yanagi Soetsu|Yanagi Sôetsu]], [[Kawai Kanjiro|Kawai Kanjirô]], and a number of other ''mingei'' figures on a three-week trip to Okinawa, marking the beginning of his engagement with [[Ryukyuan pottery]]. At one time, he spent some time in Cornwall, England, with potter [[Bernard Leach]], with whom he'd developed a close friendship.<ref>Gallery labels, Metropolitan Museum of Art.[https://www.flickr.com/photos/toranosuke/41752483012/in/dateposted/]</ref> |