Imaizumi Imaemon XIII

The 13th Imaizumi Imaemon (1926–2001) was a ceramic artist who represented modern Nabeshima ware, working primarily in Arita, Saga Prefecture. From a young age, he pursued the creation of innovative Iro-Nabeshima works that transcended conventional frameworks, exploring new possibilities through a contemporary perspective. After inheriting the name of the 13th Imaemon, he established the Iro-Nabeshima Imaemon Technique Preservation Society, through which Iro-Nabeshima became the first of its kind to receive designation as an Important Intangible Cultural Property as a comprehensive traditional craft. He received numerous awards and, in 1989, was officially recognized as a Holder of Important Intangible Cultural Property for Overglaze Enamel Porcelain—commonly referred to as a Living National Treasure.

While inheriting the traditions of Nabeshima ware, the 13th Imaizumi Imaemon created porcelain that incorporated a modern sensibility. He produced many masterworks known as “Iro-Nabeshima,” distinguished by refined overglaze decoration. Furthermore, he established a technique in which pigment is sprayed across the entire vessel to achieve soft gradations of color, introducing a new aesthetic direction into the world of traditional crafts.

Iro-Nabeshima is a high-grade porcelain produced in Arita, Saga Prefecture, since the Edo period, originally developed as official kiln ware for the Nabeshima domain. Characterized by a white porcelain ground, it features delicately painted motifs of flowers, plants, birds, and animals rendered in overglaze enamels of indigo, red, green, and yellow. The elegance of the painting and the balanced form of the vessels are highly esteemed. Especially notable are the compositions that make effective use of negative space and the meticulous precision of the designs, giving the works a refined and dignified presence. From the late Edo to the Meiji period, Iro-Nabeshima was also exported overseas and became renowned as a masterpiece of Japanese ceramics.

Selected Awards and Honors

1957 Selected for the Nitten Exhibition (–1959)
1958 Grand Prize, Saga Prefectural Exhibition
1962 First selection for the Japan Traditional Crafts Exhibition
   Selected for the Suikai Ceramic Exhibition
1963 Issuikai President’s Award, Issuikai Ceramic Exhibition
1965 Japan Kōgei Association President’s Award, Japan Traditional Crafts Exhibition
1976 Japan Ceramic Society Award
1979 NHK Chairman’s Award, Japan Traditional Crafts Exhibition
   Saga Prefecture Arts and Culture Award
1981 Grand Prize (Prince Chichibu Cup), Japan Ceramic Art Exhibition
1984 West Japan Culture Award
1986 Medal with Purple Ribbon; Saga Prefectural Distinguished Service Award
   Saga Shimbun Culture Award
1988 Mainichi Art Award
   1st MOA Mokichi Okada Award
1989 Designated as a Holder of Important Intangible Cultural Property (Living National Treasure)
   Japan Ceramic Society Gold Award
1995 Commendation from the Minister for Foreign Affairs for International Cultural Exchange
1999 Order of the Rising Sun, Gold Rays with Rosette (4th Class)