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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 the four teabowls were included in the
Teabowl Exhibition held during February 2006.
Below are items from
Kato-san’s early 2006 firings that are currently available.
The next
new work from Hajimu will form part of an exhibition of work by 3 Japanese
potters on show at the gallery during June 2007. Examples of these pots that
will be available from 3 June 2007 can be viewed by clicking here.
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