Bizen 備前

One of the 20th century's foremost potters, Fujiwara Ken was born in Okayama. He studied under the Living National Treasures Fujiwara Kei, Kaneshige Toyo and Kitaoji Rosanjin. Ken was named an Important Cultural Property of Okayama Prefecture for his Bizen ceramics. He probably would have been named a Living National Treasure had he not died suddenly in 1977 at the age of 53. Kaneshige Toyo (1896-1967) once said, “If you want to know how to fire a kiln, go see Ken.” He was referring to Fujiwara Ken, the nephew of LNT Fujiwara Kei and cousin of LNT Fujiwara Yu. Ken was known to be torn between life and art, alcohol and sobriety. He would be the most gentle of men, yet would turn animated, even violent, when drunk; yet he was so sensitive he often hid inside his kiln when his wife got angry. Rosanjin, never hesitant to criticize, only had the highest of praise for Ken’s character and his work; Ken taught Rosanjin how to fire his Kaneshige-made kiln. Ken would take massive loans for his uncle/mentor Kei when they were poor, so that his uncle could “save face”. He was willing to take on the hardest of ordeals for his friends and family. Ever loyal, honest, and caring, Ken was a “gentle giant”. In his work (quite rare due to his early passing), lies those special characteristics of Ken.

Ken was the nephew of Fujiwara Kei 藤原啓 2nd Bizen LNT (1970) and cousin of Fujiwara Yū 藤原雄 4th Bizen LNT (1996). In his day Tsuji Seimei was a heavy sake drinker--known as the 'Yokozuna of the East' and Fujiwara Ken was the 'Yokozuna of the West', Bizen/備前 bajōhai ba/馬/horse jō/上/up/above hai/盃/guinomi

１９２４年　岡山県に生まれる。
１９４６年　藤原啓（叔父）のもとで作陶開始。
　　　　 　　以後・金重陶陽にも師事。
１９５２年　京都・金重素山に京焼を学ぶ。
１９５４年　鎌倉の北大路魯山人の備前焼の窯焚き応援。
１９５６年　独立。
１９５８年　日本伝統工芸展に初入選。
１９６２年　日本陶磁協会賞。
１９６９年　第１回金重陶陽賞受賞。
１９７０年　２３メートルの大窯を築窯。
１９７３年　岡山県重要無形文化財に指定。
１９７７年　１１月５３歳で死去。１２月、勲五等瑞宝章を受章。
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