25367 Living National Treasure Arakawa Toyozo (Scroll, Mountain Lilies)

A representative Mino ware potter of the Showa era, he goes by the names Todean and Muta Tojin. He was born in Tajimi City, Gifu Prefecture. He sought the origins of pottery in Shino from the Momoyama period, and built a semi-above ground anagama (hole kiln) modeled after the Momoyama period kiln in Ogaya, where the remains of the Mutahora kiln in Kukuri, Kani City, are located, where he discovered fragments of Koshino bamboo shoot painting pottery. He continued to create pottery with the aim of recreating Koshino. He established a unique realm known as "Arakawa Shino". He also produced works in kilns all over the country, firing them in kilns in Shigaraki, Bizen, Hagi, Karatsu, and other places, leaving behind a wide variety of pottery in addition to Shino. He was selected as a Living National Treasure for both Shino and Setoguro, making him the most famous master in the pottery world, with no other pottery available. Toyozo's characteristic free-flowing brushwork depicts the mountain lilies.