Third generation Yasokichi Tokuda

Born in Ishikawa Prefecture in 1933.

After leaving Kanazawa College of Art, he trained under his grandfather, Tokuda Yasokichi I, and his father, Tokuda Yasokichi II.

In 1988, he succeeded to the name Tokuda Yasokichi III.

In 1993, he was awarded the Purple Ribbon Medal.

In 1997, he was designated a Holder of Important Intangible Cultural Property (Saishū Porcelain).

In 2005, he was recommended as Chairman of the Kutani Ware Technical Preservation Society.

He passed away in 2009.

Born in Ishikawa Prefecture, the birthplace of Kutani ware, as the eldest son of Tokuda Yasokichi II, he learned ceramic glazing and overglaze painting techniques from his grandfather, Tokuda Yasokichi I, and his father.

While traditional Kutani ware is characterized by five colors—deep blue, green, purple, yellow, and red—he deliberately eliminated red and developed a distinctive style based on four colors. By combining dozens of glazes, he created subtle gradations across the surface of the vessel, establishing the innovative technique known as Yōsai (Luminous Glaze).

While inheriting the techniques of the first and second generations, he produced highly innovative works that expanded the expressive possibilities of Kutani ware and helped bring it international recognition. His Yōsai works were widely acclaimed, leading to his designation in 2005 as a Holder of Important Intangible Cultural Property (Living National Treasure).

In contrast to traditional Kutani ware, which typically features surfaces densely covered with painted motifs, his works—composed solely of layered glazes—possess a powerful yet refined beauty that continues to captivate audiences today.

Ishikawa Prefecture is a region rich in traditional Japanese crafts and, in recent years, has also become a popular international tourist destination. Kutani ware is a traditional overglaze porcelain that originated in this region approximately 400 years ago.

It developed with the aim of creating ceramics of higher artistic quality, favored by literati, and distinct from the more utilitarian pottery that was common at the time.

Although its history was once interrupted, Kutani ware has been revived through the dedication of generations of ceramic artists, who continue to refine their skills and create new works to this day.