Watanabe Kazuhiro is a contemporary Tokoname potter.  Both his glazed and unglazed pots are popular, although prices are consistent and very reasonable for the quality.  Born November 13, 1956, the son of famous master potter Watanabe Masami of the Syouzan Kaneshou pottery, Ikkou was trained by his father in the art unglazed pots which his father made exclusively.  Although his family background and training are in the making of unglazed pots, his glazed pots, techniques for which he is completely self taught, are wonderful.  My favorite glazes of Ikkou are his blues and greens, normally I prefer his pots pure and single colored, although his greens with slilver overglaze detail and blue overglaze highlights, like the two from my shelves, below, are also very nice.

6.3 x 2.5 inches, My Collection

6 x 3 inches, My Collection

6 x 4 x 1 inches. My Collection

18.6 x 14.4 x 4.9 cm Copyright Yorozuen

My favorite style and color of Ikkou pot.  I love Mokko shape pots by Ikkou, especially in this milk blue glaze.

14.8 x 12.2 x 5.1 cm Copyright Yorozuen

Another style of Mokko pot, deeper with more angular feet.

14.3 x 11.8 x 5.1 cm Copyright Yorozuen

18.1 x 14.8 x 5.3 cm Copyright Yorozuen

This is an interesting glaze for an Ikkou, I havent seen its like.  The depth of the indigo glaze is remarkable, and the full cloud feet are very nice.  Very Tofukujiesque.

7 x 17.8 x 4.3 cm Copyright Yorozuen

A Milk blue oval with a marvelous patina.  I love how this glaze color ages.

17 x 13.5 x 4.3 cm Copyright Yorozuen

The Light green and Yellow glazed pots of Ikkou are nice as well, although I prefer the blues, I wouldnt kick this one off my shelves!

15.7 x 12.9 x 4.7 cm Copyright Yorozuen

19.7 x 13.9 x 2.7 cm Copyright Yorozuen

9.8 x 8 x 3.8 cm Copyright Yorozuen

11.5 x 9 x 4.1 cm Copyright Yorozuen

17.2 x 13.7 x 4.4 cm Copyright Yorozuen

18.4 x 13.3 x 5.4 cm Copyright Yorozuen

In Ikkou’s unglazed pots, it is really easy to see the clean lines, marvelous corner details, foot details, and finishing that his father is a master of as well.  I find his unglazed pots especially suited for black pines, as their color and character lends themselves to the king of bonsai.

Hope you enjoyed reading about Watanabe Kazuhiro.  In the next post I show off a few more interesting pots from my shelves, then a feature on potter Ino Shukuho.