26121 Living National Treasure Jiro Kinjo Tsuboya-yaki Fish Design Jar

Height 37.1cm
Diameter 21.5cm

Jiro Kinjo was born in Tsuboya, Naha City, Okinawa Prefecture in 1911. While carrying on the traditions of Tsuboya ware, he focused on making pottery for everyday use, creating pieces using his own unique techniques. The fish patterns he painted are said to represent prosperity of descendants, and are extremely popular among Tsuboya ware.

Jiro Kinjo has established his own style of fish design while inheriting the traditional techniques of Okinawa's Tsuboya ware. He says that the fish designs he likes to draw are based on marine life, because "Okinawa is an island nation surrounded by the sea," and that "they are natural, not realistic," and his works strongly reflect the climate and culture of Okinawa.

Kinjo Jiro's works are important in conveying the history and culture of Tsuboya ware, a traditional Okinawan craft, to the present day, and have made a significant contribution to the development of Okinawan pottery.