Every Year I look forward to the release of images and results from the Japanese Shohin Bonsai Association’s Kobachi exhibition. The exhibition features the work of 50 potters chosen by Mr. Urushibata, showcasing both advanced amateurs and professional bonsai potters. 3 awards are given by the JSB Association, in the categories of unglazed, glazed, and painted pottery.
This years selection showed some often featured famous potters as well as some relative unknowns(to me at least!). Prizes went to Ito Gekko, Eimei, Shosui, and Kyuzo(久三). I’d not seen much of Kyuzo’s work before this year’s exhibition, but since January it’s been everywhere!
I liked that Kutani Ikko was chosen to be featured, though I lament a little that no background was given other than his name and his years making pottery. I also really enjoyed seeing newer work from Bushuan, Juko, Gekko, and the ever-present-at-these-things Doshitas: Keishin and Hosei.

You can take a look at the potters featured in the exhibition and read some of their histories here:
The 2013 Kobachi Exhibition

Koyo Juko

Eimei Yozan

Kyuzo

Bushuan

Ito Gekko

Kutani Ikko

Shosui(former student of Ishida and Yuuki Shoseki)

Thanks for reading and enjoy looking through the 2013 Exhibition! Up next: a revisit to last Novembers “Bonsai Gardens Of The Northeast” in the Japanese magazine Bonsai Sekai, and Pots from my Collection 15.