Hakuji 白磁

Inoue was the 2nd LNT (1995) for Hakuji/Seihakuji - the first was Tsukamoto Kaiji 塚本快示 (1983). My first purchase from Robert Yellin

Born in 1929 in Arita. An Arita Ware expert at the pottery wheel, Inoue was a master at white porcelain. In Arita, ornamental techniques exist for dyeing and painting, but that is not the case for white porcelain. It’s known simply for its softness and smooth texture, and expresses a noble, warm and dignified style.
Although his parents’ home was located inn a pottery town, Inoue intended to become a soldier and at 15, he entered naval flight training. In 1945, he was demobilized and at his father’s recommendation, he began working for the 12th Kakiemon Sakaida. After 7 years of tutelage, in 1952, he was affected by the works of Chuuemon Okugawa, a great teacher of the pottery wheel and then became his pupil, and learned about the wheel and white porcelain. In 1958, Inoue left the Kakiemon Kilns, and became a technical officer at the Arita Prefectural Kiln Industry Testing Facility. On the side, he researched the molding of porcelain and glazing, and strove to learn all he could about the methods of traditional white porcelain and individual design.
In 1968, he was first elected into the 15th Japan Traditional Industrial Arts Exhibition. In 1969, Inoue went to the United States at the invitation of Pennsylvania State University as a professor of Arita Ware for 5 months. He also held solo exhibitions overseas in countries like Germany and Hungary, and in March 2002, he participated in the exhibition commemorating the 45th anniversary of the ruler of Monaco’s accession. Inoue covered a lot of ground and built an extremely good reputation overseas.
In 1977, Inoue received the Ministry of International Trade and Industry Prize for National Traditional Handicrafts. On May 31 1995, he was bestowed the honor of Important Intangible Cultural Asset (LNT) and in 1997 was given the Medal with Purple Ribbon. True to the declaration that "form is beauty," Inoue's style consists only of white porcelain even though the majority of Arita ware is colorful, and his work's harmony has given birth to a new tradition.
Currently, Inoue, along with his son Yasunori Inoue, have set up a kiln and a bungalow gallery in Arita. Within the vividly-painted world of Arita Ware, they are continuing the unique style of immersing themselves in white porcelain. Their students already numbering at 500 with over 150 of them from America, the Inoues are concentrating on cultivating the next generation.

井上萬二(1929～)
1929年/佐賀県有田市の有田焼窯元の家に生まれる。
1945年/十二代酒井田柿右衛門に磁器の製法を学び、先代奥川忠右衛門に磁器大物成形の轆轤技術を学ぶ。
1958年/佐賀県立窯業試験所に勤務。佐賀県展に入選。
1968年/第15回日本伝統工芸展に初入選。
1969年/アメリカ・ペンシルバニア州立大学美術科にて派遣教授として陶芸指導を行う。以後指導の為4回渡米する。
1971年/独立して作家活動を始める。日本工芸会の正会員となる。
1978年/佐賀県陶芸協会の理事就任。
1983年/アメリカ・ニューメキシコ大学にて陶芸指導を行う。現在美術教育学 部教授。紺綬褒章授章。
1986年/佐賀県芸術文化功労賞受賞。
1987年/第34回日本伝統工芸展にて文部大臣賞受賞。佐賀新聞文化賞受賞。文化奨励賞受賞。
1990年/佐賀県重要無形文化財認定。
1993年/佐賀県県政功労者賞受賞。
1995年/重要無形文化財(人間国宝)保持者認定。佐賀新聞文化賞受賞。佐賀新聞文化功労賞受賞。
1997年/紫綬褒章受賞。
1999年/文化交流のためモナコにて「レニエ大公即位50周年記念」井上萬二個展開催。