Masaya Yoshimura was born in 1938 in Osaka. In 1961 he graduated from Tokyo University of Foreign Studies, and after working for a trading company, he studied at the Kuwasawa Design School. In 1974 in Kasama City, Ibaraki Prefecture, he constructed his own kiln: the ‘Nazuna’ kiln. He has mastered the Joseon Dynasty method of Kohiki and has developed his own style, which has attracted attention both in Japan and abroad. In 1984 he held a solo exhibition at Nihonbashi Mitsukoshi and after that many further solo exhibitions in various venues. His works are in public collections including those of the British Museum and the Cleveland Museum of Art. His Kohiki’s unique appeal is that while it possesses warmth, the impression that its modelled shapes give is one of cool dignity: this is its ingenuity. In addition to translucent glaze, Yoshimura works with blue-white glaze that gives a beautiful radiance to the work. The body of Yoshimura’s work when fired to become rigid does not absorb much water, and is used by numerous restaurants of a famous reputation. In the Great East Japan Earthquake of two years ago, the ‘Nazuna’ kiln collapsed. Since its reconstruction in April last year, the artist has embarked on the new work. This exhibition is the first showing of the results of his new technique of combining clay which has been fired white with a new charcoal firing. At the age of 75, Yoshimura vigorously continues to produce his ceramic work.