Biography

1933

Born in Komatsu City, Ishikawa as the first son of Yasokichi TokudaⅡ
Dropped out of the Department of Ceramic, the Faculty of Crafts, Kanazawa Junior College of Art and Studied under his grandfather (Yasokichi Tokuda Ⅰ)and his father

1971

“Saiyu-Bachi” won the award for excellence at the 18th Japan Traditional Crafts Exhibition

1977

“Yousai-Bachi” won the Grand Prix at the 24th the Japan Traditional Arts crafts Exhibition

1978

Became an exclusive auditor of Japan Kogei association

1986

Hold a personal exhibition in Kairo, Egypt

1988

Succeeded Yasokichi Tokuda Ⅲ

1990

Won the Grand Prix at the International Pottery and Porcelain Exhibition

1991

“Sousei”(creation) won the Chichibunomiya-Shihai prize at the 11th Japan Traditional Crafts Exhibition (recommended selection)

1993

Was awarded Medal with Dark Blue Ribbon

1997

Recognized as a Living National Treasure for his Saiyu glaze technique

1998

“Yousaisenbun-Tsubo” was owned by Metro Politan Museum of Arts

2005

Was recommended for a chairman of the Association of Kutani-ware Conservation (prefecturally-designated important intangible cultural property)

2009

Died (Aged 76)

In 1933, Yasokichi TokudaⅢ(Masahiko) was born in Nomi, Komatsu, Ishikawa as the first son of Yasokichi TokudaⅡ.Since he was little, he had lived with his grandfather and his father, surrounded by great crafts of Kutani-Yaki, being told about anecdotes of works. When he was 20, he started to work at the craft and studying under two Yasokichi(ⅠandⅡ).He was told by TokudaⅠwho was the authority of old Kutani style about colors and expression method of it and he was mostly inherited modernity and creativity by TokudaⅡwho was inspired by his father: Kenkichi Tomimoto known as a father of contemporary art of ceramics.

During continuing his training, even though he had been worried about his destiny that people would compare him with two of great predecessors, TokudaⅠ passed away when Masahiko was 22. At that moment his grandfather gave a black note written in secret codes.In the note, there were some secrets about glazes and all of his research that he never told to anyone even his sons and apprentices. Masahiko broke all the codes and eventually deciphered every secret method of over 100 colors. Masahiko had decided to dedicate everything to the creation in order to pursue his grandfather’s life-spending research on his way.

Masahiko made many color glazes which were intentionally modified the amount a bit from the Tokuda Ⅰ’s original ones and searched how much the colors changed between two of them. Eventually, he found over 70 identifiable colors and the fact that when he was firing ceramics painted with those colors in higher temperature than his father’s age, a beautiful gradation emerged. Could we imagine how far he was impressed to be an only person in the world who was watching the miracle? This is how the typical skill of Tokuda Ⅲ “Yousai” was born.

Masahiko was interested in European drawings and most of his skills including “Yousai” came from an abstract painting as well so he had been criticized a lot by the fans of traditional Kutani-yaki. However, he decided to chase the new method of color expression in order to go beyond his predecessor's way as far as he was born in the crafts which strength is coloring.So he continued creating the works with “Yousai”. After a time, “Yousai ” was recognized as the new method of Kutani-ware and those works have been acclaimed in all over the world.

In 1982, Masahiko succeeded Yasokichi Tokuda Ⅲ. Then in 2009, he was recognized as a Living National Treasure for his Saiyu glaze technique. He did not agree to just follow the tradition while inheriting it and he made his original world beyond it. His imposing attitude is very similar to his beautiful works he left.