NAHIKO

The founder of Onishino

Born to a father who was a stone sculptor and a mother who was a flower arranger, Nahiko's artistic sensibility was cultivated from a young age. Eccentric, eclectic, after fighting for World War II he was one step away from becoming a hermit monk. Then something happened and he deepened all the arts like music, painting, sculpture leaving an incredible legacy. considered the picasso of Asia. No one has ever crossed certain boundaries by launching the highest great challenges ever to the fire.

"Coining the term in the mid-50's after countless failed experiments-which ultimately culminated in the discovery of this unique style of pottery-"Oni" translates roughly to demon or ogre. Fired at extreme temperatures for days in an anagama, the iron in the clay and in the glaze fuse, drip, and coalesce-while at the same time blending with the molten ash of the kiln to produce an incredible almost primordial landscape on the ceramic surface. "

From the beginning he presented mainly solo exhibitions, with over 200 domestic exhibitions held to date, chiefly in major cities, and also overseas at the first and second Paris Onishino Exhibitions in 1988-89, where he received a favorable reception.

Through his devotion to the craft, he developed a method of firing works over longer periods than Shino ceramics, and shocked the international ceramics world when he presented the creation of Onishino.

He developed his highly creative vision of Onishino further with a harmony of bold molding and thick glazing that almost seems to swell with life force, and in recent years revealed a new artistic world by introducing elements such as gold leafing and Rimpa expression.

Also, in addition to ceramics, he has gained a high reputation for presenting a unique artistic vision in other media, such as writing, painting, and copperplate engraving. He died on August 16th 2006

" Even in a field so ripe with memorable personalities, Tsukigata Nahiko (1923 - 2006) is considered an eccentric figure in the world of Japanese pottery. Like many of the greats, he was a multi-talented artist-accomplished in the pursuit of calligraphy, oil painting, sculpting, and his greatest love, the Shakuhachi. Unfortunately, his artistic pursuits were cut short during the war when he was drafted into the army to fight in WWII. After being released from service, he spent a number of years traveling the countryside playing the Shakuhachi, then working for a ballet school, and for a time practicing as a reclusive Zen priest at Myoanji temple. Finally, his creative spirit was rekindled by the fire of the potter's kiln and this became his life's calling. Finally Tsukigata settled on his unique style he called "Oni" Shino and began creating small batches of chawan, tsubo, hanaire, tokkuri, guinomi, and yunomi along with other miscellaneous pieces. Today these works are highly prized both domestically and abroad and should be considered a must-have addition to any comprehensive collection of Japanese ceramics. "

Tsukigata Nahiko (1923-2006) is immediately recognizable for his scale and extreme surfaces. A kind od artist and quite reserved, introspective and on a spiritual journey to enlightenment of mind and work. In Life accomplished shakuhachi player, calligrapher, oil painter and sculptor of which many of his bronzes were cast in editions. Tsukigata studied and worked with Arakawa Toyozo and inherited a certain amount of his style, technology and firing methods. After working with Arakawa, Tsukigata began to experiment with styles and firing methodology. He worked in Ko-Shino, Shino, Nezumi-Shino, Aka-Shino,Ki-Seto, Kohiki, Hagi and even Shigaraki. Then he coined the now famous term, Oni-Shino and also Oni-Iga to describe his new work. His Oni-Shino works are raw power and present a landscape, unseen in Japanese pottery before his "creation".

"The ONISHINO when considered from the ceramic technical point of view, is the one in which the fusing effects of iron ingredients, namely, the iron in the clay, the iron in the feldspar glaze and that in the flames, are ingeniously vivified on the Shino ware. These three factors bring out the variety of different finishes." *

Coining the term in the mid-50's after countless failed experiments-which ultimately culminated in the discovery of this unique style of pottery-"Oni" translates roughly to demon or ogre. Fired at extreme temperatures for days in an anagama, the iron in the clay and in the glaze fuse, drip, and coalesce-while at the same time blending with the molten ash of the kiln to produce an incredible almost primordial landscape on his works surface.This piece of art totally far from his bowls displays several unique and interesting features including areas of bronze and metallic flecks showing through the top layer of glaze along with snowflake fractal patterns along areas of the inside and outer rim. Even in a field so ripe with memorable personalities, Tsukigata Nahiko (1923 - 2006) is considered an eccentric figure in the world of Japanese pottery. Like many of the greats, he was a multi-talented artist-accomplished in the pursuit of calligraphy, oil painting, sculpting, and his greatest love, the Shakuhachi. Unfortunately, his artistic pursuits were cut short during the war when he was drafted into the army to fight in WWII. After being released from service, he spent a number of years traveling the countryside playing the Shakuhachi, then working for a ballet school, and for a time practicing as a reclusive Zen priest at Myoanji temple. Finally, his creative spirit was rekindled by the fire of the potter's kiln and this became his life's calling. From the 1930s onward, there was a big push initiated by Arakawa Toyozo to resurrect the ancient art of Shino ceramics which had been lost for hundreds of years. In 1953, Tsukigata set up a kiln nearby Arakawa's studio and, with some assistance and mentoring from the great artist, began producing works of Ko-Shino, Shino, Nezumi-Shino, and Aka-Shino. Finally Tsukigata settled on his unique style he called "Oni" Shino and began creating small batches of chawan, tsubo, hanaire, tokkuri, guinomi, and yunomi along with other miscellaneous pieces. Today these works are highly prized both domestically and abroad and should be considered a must-have addition to any comprehensive collection of Japanese ceramics. This piece It is in excellent condition and bears the artist's signature on the base. It comes full of beauty!!!!

月形大陶坊美術館（月形那比古記念美術会館）

月形大陶坊美術館（月形那比古記念美術会館）

Tsukigata Daitobo Museum： AM10時～PM3時30分 【毎週月曜日 年末年始 祝日の翌日（作品展示替の為、臨時休館あり。 団体様は事前確認の事）】

： 土岐市泉町久尻1429-1

： 0572-55-3624

： 個人美術館

This "ONISHINO" art museum was built in 1974. It was built to commemorate of 25th anniversary creative art activities Nahiko tsukigata,by 1974. This museum "onishino potter" Nahiko tsukigata's(1923-2006) ANAGAMA art studio wood-fired pottery,his work Biggest exhibition museum.

" This museum the onishino-art in the world by real nahiko tsukigata. onishino is not dead! Hyper High- fired ONISHINO potery is very shocking pottery. very interesting new traditionnal SHINO-yaki (SHINO-yaki=traditionnal pottery,from mino,japan) world. It's a Wonderful onishino-pottery world." so nahiko is say.

This area is located in (Toki city and Kani city) is among the ruins of the group of ancient pottery kilns of the Momoyama Period(1574-1602) .

Ancient times(Momoyama period) SHINO ware were produced in large quantity place. The village of "Mino-yaki" Pottery of Gifu-prefecture Toki city,Kani city,& Tajimi city.　it's gifu southeast area. Ogaya place is the place where Mr.Toyozo Arakawa successfully restored the art of SHINO glazing as a modern pottery art,and for this great work,he was awarded an Order of Cultural Merits,and it is also the Mecca of SHINO where "ESHINO CHAWAN"(art decorated SHINO tea cup)designated as a National Treasure was produced.

Regards,Tsukigata daitoubo museum of art,Japan,Mino Toki-city

A special thanks to Akehiko Tsukigata