History of Haruhiko Kaneko as an Art Producer

Mr. Kaneko established Ishigaki-yaki Kamamoto on Ishigaki Island Okinawa prefecture 1 st December in 1999. He produced some exhibitions at department stores in Tokyo and Kanagawa region since 2000 to 2002. In March 2002, he presented a pottery to Prince Takamado upon his visit to Ishigaki Island. At the same year of April and October, he also presented pottery to chief Zen Priest Shunan Noritake, REIUN-IN MYOSHINGI temple of Rinzai-shu clan in Kyoto. Finally in 2002, he produced some events held in overseas. It helped Ishigaki-yaki to introduce itself into countries in overseas.

Majesties the Emperor and Empress exhibited a large Ishigaki-yaki platter in the royal couple's room upon their visit of Ishigaki Island in 2004. At the same year, collaboration show with Mr. David Senia, head chef of the French Restaurant “La Baie” at the Ritz-Carlton Osaka had come true. Ishigaki-yaki dinnerware was used for the full-course dinner show which features Okinawa's fresh sea foods. Ishigaki-yaki's popular “The Blue Pendant of Happiness” is a special giveaway for lunch customers. It was a common sense using a white plate to French dishes. However, the show changed mind of people so that Ishigaki-yaki pottery is now recognized as a representative plates of French. In August 2005, our three feet platter “The sea of Okinawa” was exhibited as an Okinawan representative in EXPO 2005 Aichi Japan. Ishigaki-yaki pottery is now considered as pottery which well expressing the beautiful sea of Okinawa.

History of Haruhiko Kaneko as a pottery artist

June 20,1999
Ishigaki-yaki Kamamoto (Ishigaki pottery Studio) foundedby Haruhiko Kaneko.

December 1, 1999
Stated exhibition and sales at restaurant Arata in Ginza, Tokyo

May1,2000 ～ July 19, 2004
Exhibited and sold at Department Store.
Matsuya Asakusa, Tokyo, Mtsuya Ginza Tokyo, Seibu Ikebukuro Tokyo, Seibu Ikebukuro Tokyo, Tamagawa Takashimaya Tokyo, Yokohama Takashimaya Kanagawa, Mitsukoshi Naha Okinawa.

March 2002
Presented Pottery to Price Takamado upon his visit to Ishigaki Island.

Apr. & Oct. 2002
Presented Pottery to Chif Priest Shunan Noritake, REIUN-IN MYOSHINJI-Temple, of Rinzai-shu clan

September 3 to 22, 2002
Jouind Landesgartenschauo Ostfilden 2002 in Germany as a Japanese guest, under the them “Traum Felder”. We also displayed Japanese flower arrangement.

January 25 and 26, 2004
Upon the visit of their Majesties the Emoeror and Empress to Ishigaki Island, exhibited a large ishigaki-yaki platter in the royal couple’s room. Ishigaki-yaki Kamamoto was graced with her Majesty Empress Michiko’s personal gratitude.

June 1 to August 31, 2004
Collaboration show with Mr. David Senia, Chef of the French Restaurant “La Baie” at The Ritz-Carlton Osaka. Ishigaki dinnerwares are used for the full-course dinner show, which features Okinawa’s fresh seafoods. Ishigaki’s popular “ The Blue Pendnat of Happiness “ is a special giveaway for lunch customers.

August 3 to 5, 2005
An international exposition 2005 was held in Ngoya Japan. The theme of exposition was “Nature’s Wisdom” and It was the environmental exposition. We are making pottery of the sea of Okinawa, and it called ecological art ( The art for nature ).therefore, we were only pottery include ceramic could be selected and displayed at Exposition Nagoya, Expo Dorm. We exhibited 3 feet large ishigaki-yaki platter. So many people were admired it.

Thanks to some of pottery professionals. Because of their cooperation, he could start working not only an art producer but also as a pottery artist. He had been making pottery which assimilation of sea color of glass and Yuteki Tenmoku. He also wanted try new thing that nobody had ever done. He had been tried to assimilate natural leaf to the original one. Finally in August 2009, he met with success to assimilate natural leaf with them. It took about 2 years to succeed it.

In December 2009, his art work, 8 Japanese feet size of plate was exhibited at Espase Ipse Gallery in France.

It was one of a great opportunity to introduce his art work to people outside of Japan.

May 1 to 31, 2010
Collaboration of Japanese restaurant “Nadaman” & Ishigaki-yaki Kamamoto ( Ishigaki Pottery Studio ). Nadaman is 2 star Japanese restaurant on the Michelin Guide (le Fuide Michelin ). Ishigaki Pottery was used at Japanese cuisine and we had many praise from Japanese celebrity.

September 29, 2010 ～　October 4, 2010
On the stage of Nikko Tosho-gu Shrine which a world heritage, All Japan Bonsai Exhibition (日本大宝樹展) was held. An event commemorative for Gneral Ieyasu Tokugawa birth 400 years. A bonsai of the national treasure grade was exhibited.
Ishigaki pottery was participated as an art work not a flowerpot. I produced “collaboration of pottery and the bonsai” for the first time in the world. It was the ishigaki pottery 2 feets platter “ The sea of Okinawa” and the signature product bonsai “ Truth Oak 真柏“　which were received high evaluation.

I also exhibited Hekikai Konoha Temmmoku Chawan ( Fusion of a natural leaf, clay, the glass succeeded for the first time in the world). I have words of the praise from masters of tea ceremony and a lot of VIPguests. Our work was exhibited at the guest room of His Majesty the Emperor. The selected bonsai which are exhibited at the guest room worth ￥10,000,000 to ￥200,000,000. My pottry was treated such an expensive bonsai equally, I was so honored.

December 4, 2010
Youhen Taihi Temmmoku succeeded in the first time in the world.
When I tested Thaihi temmoku, an iris appears on July 29. Because of Youhen temmmoku consist of iron glaze which has three pottery in the world. I asked a ceramics examination institution and The Tokyo national Museum; however, I reched announcement because of an unprecedented in the past history.

January 21, 2011　～　January 25, 2011
We exhibited at the trade fair of the world highest peak “ MAISON & OBJET 2011 in Paris” We achieve the first exhibition from Okinawa prefecture. Only two companies could exhibited at Hall 4 “ A gem work, a work of art exhibition hall” from Japan. Ishigaki pottery was praised to many artists and hotel people, architects, many designers, a cabinet-maker, boutique owner.

January 23, 2011 ～　February 8, 2011
Luxury high-quality Cruise ship “ Nippon Maru “ ( Mitsui OSK Lines, Ltd.) used Ishigaki Pottery.

Pottery professionals who taught him pottery

・ Mr. Saburo Kimura
He was born in 1932. The owner of Kimura Saburo Pottery Studio. He used to be a first class certified technician of Mashiko Pottery (A folkcraft person) and known as a prince of making Japanese tea pot in Kanto region, Japan.

・Mr. Shozo Otsuka
He was born in 1938. The owner of Orikoshi Pottery Studio. He learned glaze by Etsuzo Kato and Shigeto Kanaoka who had been working for Nagoya Engineering Experiment Station. In 1997, he was awarded Chief Scientist Prize. He was also awarded “The Order of the Sacred Treasure, Silver Rays” in 1998. He is identified as one of a skillful workman in modern society in Japan. He also received some prizes from Japanese government.

・ Mr. Eizo Morioka
He was born in 1926. The owner of pottery studio named “Shinzan-tobo”. He was awarded ‘The Order of the Rising Sun, Green Paulonia Medal”. He is a first class certified technician of Tokoname Pottery (A folkcraft person) and known as a prince of Yuteki-tenmoku and Konoha-tenmoku.

・ Mr. Yoshiyuki Iyo
He was born in 1937. The owner of Hekisho Pottery Studio. He used to work for Industrial Research Institute of Tokushima Prefecture. He taught Otani-yaki there and contributed for prosperity of Otani-yaki. He is the first man who succeeded making Yuteki-tenmoku by using blue rocks.

Deep appreciation to those pottery professionals！

Introduction of Owner

Born in Fukuoka Prefecture, Japan on 7th February 1961. Later his family moved to Yoron Island where he spent his teenage years. Both of his parents were artist. His father was the owner of Yoron Pottery Studio.

He took a license of Pilot at Tokyo Aviation Professional Training College. At 20 years old, he entered college and graduate from Indiana State University. Under his father's advice he didn't major in fine arts at University, choosing instead another direction for his knowledge in ceramics.

While in America, Mr. Kaneko visited and spoke to as many people and places as he could. He wanted to experience and be influenced by as many places as possible to get a broad view of world in order to come up with new ideas for his pottery. The world would be his teacher.

He went to plays, museums and famous restaurants, spoke with physics lecturers, painters, sculptors, mathematicians, philosopher and foreign students. He visited many Buddhist temples and Shinto shrines in Japan and took trips to Europe and other countries in Asia as well. It didn't have to be about ceramics, it could be anything.

After he worked for a securities company in Los Angeles, he came back to Japan and worked for an advertising agency.

Because his father was kamikaze pilot during WWⅡ, there was contemplation in Okinawa. However, his father was already attacked by cancer and there was little life so he decided to inherit will of his father.

So, finally in 1999, he established Ishigaki-yaki Kamamoto on Ishigaki Island Okinawa Prefecture, Japan. He produced many events of Ishigaki-yaki as an art producer and pottery artist.

Please refer to profile of Haruhiko Kaneko as a pottery artist as well.