Collection: Artist Category > The "HA" column (Shoji Hamada, etc.) > Yoshimichi Fujimoto

Born in Tokyo in 1919, Fujimoto Yoshimichi is a ceramic artist who broke new ground in the field of overglaze porcelain. After studying at the Department of Crafts and Design at the Tokyo School of Fine Arts, he went on to study at the Ministry of Education's Technical Training Institute, where he was taught by Kato Hajimoe. His experience as an assistant to Tomimoto Kenkichi laid the foundation for the overglaze technique that would later become his signature technique.

After the war, while working on designing and teaching ceramics for export, he continued his own research, winning the Kofu Crafts Award for his "Porcelain Overglaze Vase" in 1968. From 1970, he taught at Tokyo University of the Arts, and in 1985 he became the university's president, devoting himself to nurturing the next generation of educators.

The "Yubyo Kasai" technique established by Fujimoto is a method of painting directly with colored glazes before firing, giving a new look to conventional overglaze porcelain. The painterly expression, incorporating the "mokubetsu" (painting without bone) technique of Japanese painting, freely depicts flowers and birds, and the soft bleeding and overlapping of colors without the use of lines exudes a unique charm. The patterns, meticulously drawn down to the smallest detail, have a dynamic feel that is reminiscent of a painting.

Due to these achievements, he was designated a holder of the Important Intangible Cultural Property "Iroe Porcelain" (Living National Treasure) in 1986. Fujimoto Yoshimichi's works, which are gorgeous yet exude elegance, continue to fascinate many people today as they reflect the beauty of color and delicate sensibility.