Shigeru Fukuda is one of my favorite contemporary Japanese potters, and has been featured numerous times on the blog. 

For previous posts, click here: Bushuan Posts. 

He is quite famous in Japan, although not because of bonsai and pottery.  He’s something akin to the Japanese Dale Earnhart, as he’s the winningest Japanese auto racer in history, with more than 60 wins.  He currently owns the Kawaguichi Auto Racing track in Saitama.  

Insofar as hispottery is concerned, it’s said that’s he’s the “reincarnation of Heian Tofukuji”, for his diversity of form, unique glazes, and exceptional depth.

  Here, Kunio Kobayashi prepares a stone display at Shunkaen with Bushuan Suiban.  That’s Fukuda Shigeru to the left.  

Now, on to the pots!

     Multiple Views of an outstanding crackle yellow glazed Tetsu Gakken style rectangle with painted and carved bamboo and tiger.  Simply gorgeous.          A spectacular rectangle with multiple color glazes.  A riot of beatiful glazes.  Truly unique style and execution.    A more muted Multi color glazed square in earth tones with just a hint of blue.   

   One from my collection.  A really nice yellow glazed rectangle with significant crystal formation.  This container is difficult to photograph.  The amount and complexity of the crystals is outstanding.

    An outstanding round with full cloud feet and darker multicolor glaze.  Complex and beautiful.    A tall jingasa(hat shape) with running green glaze.    Bushuan Oribe, with his characteristic heavy notes of blue cobalt.  Another Oribe, in round bag shape.  Showing less blue and more of a multi color effect.   A really lovely shinsa red, in a classical oval with terraced feet.    Just too much say here…..the spiral fluting makes this piece and it’s glaze wild.  Breathtaking.      Another Oribeish glaze.  This one showing some great crystal structures around the rim.  The center braid really sets this piece off.Another really exceptional drippy red, with notes of pinks….good lord that’s a lot of different reds.  I’ve seen a couple of these highly textured glazed rounds.  Now this is a use of texture I can totally back.Another from my collection, green Oribe with cloud feet and a lovely crackle.    A last from my own hoard: a really lovely rich blue over Oribe.  This is a tiny piece at 3″ but guaranteed to be a show stopper nonetheless…. 

Wow……nuff said.
Another painted and carved piece, this is an exceptional Oribe rectangle on multiple levels.          And we’ll finish up with this streaky blue rectangle…..crackle, drippy blue-green glaze, bottom glaze, carved handles…..this has it all; a true masterpiece in every sense.

Hope you’ve enjoyed another look at the pottery of Shigeru Fukuda, Thanks For Reading!