Overview

• He died of natural causes on July 14 and his funeral was held privately by close relatives
• A public farewell gathering is scheduled to bring together the ceramics community and local leaders to commemorate his life
• He was recognized as a Modern Master in 1979, won the Minister of Education Award in 1987 and was designated a Living National Treasure in 1995
• His lifelong pursuit of a pure white glaze reshaped Arita ware aesthetics and influenced postwar Japanese porcelain traditions
• He continued innovating into his mid-90s, unveiling new works in January 2025 and mentoring a new generation of ceramic artists