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Hajimu Kato was born in Shigaraki in 1946 and, as
the family business was one of the major commercial ceramic companies in the
area, he grew up surrounded by pottery.
After gaining a degree in Business Administration from Ritsumeikan University
in Kyoto, he went back to join the family firm where he stayed for 17 years.
During this time he learnt about ceramics from the potters around the area and started
making his own work. Then upon reaching forty in 1987 he gave up "his
proper job", built his own Anagama kiln and concentrated on becoming an
artist. In this he has been successful, gaining a reputation not only locally
but also throughout Japan. His work has been selected for and shown in
national ceramic and traditional craft exhibitions, he is a member of the
Japanese Craft Association and he has won numerous prizes for his work.
Five teabowls and three
yunomis by Hajimu were shown as part of the Harlequin Gallery “Teabowl”
exhibition during March 2005 and more were included in the Teabowl Exhibition
held during February 2006. In 2007 he was one of three Japanese
potters featured in an exhibition of Anagama fired pottery.
Below are items from
Kato-san’s work that is currently available.
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