Mori Toshiaki
Mori Toshiaki is the eldest son of Mori Taiji, who carries on a
lineage of the “Rokusho” (the six historic Bizen kiln families), and
he is the 19th generation of the Mori family. Even before he could
speak, he was already playing with clay. Through his father Taiji,
he learned not only refined techniques but also the Mori family’s
philosophy: that Bizen ware is not a tradition for artists, but a
culture for the people.
He believes Bizen ware holds cultural value in enriching everyday
life by embodying wabi-sabi—the Japanese aesthetic of
accepting beauty within imperfection. Inspired by this cultural
significance, he began studying cultural heritage to earn his
bachelor’s degree.
Today, he adapts his artistic style to suit contemporary tastes and
aims to share Japanese culture with the world through Bizen ware.
PROFILE
Biography
(also selected in 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, and 2023)
Selected for the Chugoku Branch Exhibition of the Japan Traditional Crafts Exhibition (also selected in 2012, 2016, 2018, 2020, and 2021)
Hosted the East Japan Reconstruction Support Charity event “from〇bizen” (held annually thereafter through 2019)
・“Bizen in Iowa -A Clay Cultural Exchange-” The Ceramics Center (Cedar Rapids, Iowa, USA)
・“Bizen Pottery Artists from Japan” Sara Japanese Pottery (New York, USA)
・“THE POWER OF BIZEN” Daiwa Anglo-Japanese Foundation Japan-house Gallery (London, UK)
・“JAPANESE POTTERS -the next generation-” Kigbeare Studios & Gallery (Okehampton, Devon, UK)
Participated as a member of the project to build a Bizen-style anagama kiln in Oxford University’s research forest: “Oxford Anagama Kiln Project (now Oxford University Kilns)”
Invited artist for Artist-in-Residence Suzu (Suzu City, Ishikawa)
Hosted “Ceramic Art Bizen in Shizutani” (Former Shizutani School, Bizen City) (also held in 2019)
Joined a support project to help restore spirits after the West Japan floods (Mabi, Kurashiki), delivering Bizen ware vessels to affected areas
Served for one year as President of the Bizen Junior Chamber of Commerce
Organized art exchange exhibitions in Taiwan and Japan
・“Tai–Japan Art Exchange in Pingtung” (Pingtung, Taiwan)
・“Japan–Taiwan Art Exchange: ‘Ceramics’ and ‘Sculpture’” (Setouchi City, Okayama)
Served as a special lecturer for “Shizutani Studies,” a Bizen ware seminar at Wake Shizutani High School (Okayama) (ongoing)
Appeared as a guest in an online discussion hosted by the Embassy of Japan in the UK: “Making Pottery in Bizen and the UK”
Coordinated “UNESCO School in Bizen”
Invited children and students from eight countries and led Bizen ware workshops and instruction
Exhibition History
- Tokyo, Yokohama, Chiba, Saitama, Osaka, Kyoto, Okayama, Hiroshima, New York, London, Taiwan, and more
My Definition of Bizen Ware
I define Bizen ware as work created in the land of Bizen with conviction and resolve.
