Living National Treasure Sekisui Ito

  • Ceramics
  • 1941 -
Sekisui Ito

Mumyoi-yaki, the fine Japanese pottery made from reddish clay known as mumyoi. Producing the clay, the heart of Sado’s goldmine shares 200 years of history with people.
Akamizu Kiln has a long tradition that was started by ITO Tomizaburo (HAGUCHIYA Jinbei) during the Tempo period. His grandson Tomitaro called himself ITO Sekisui, and Sekisui II, III and IV followed this trade.
Their works received a number of awards at exhibitions at home and abroad, meanwhile the generations of the family were privileged with the honor of purchases by the Imperial family.
Since ITO Yoichi succeeded to Sekisui V in 1977, he has received numerous awards at the Japan Traditional Art Crafts Exhibition, Japanese Ceramic Arts Exhibition, international exhibitions and others. In 2003 he was appointed a holder of important intangible cultural property (living national treasure).

Membership Full member, Japan Kogei Association
Status Living National Treasure (Important Intangible Cultural Property for Mumyoi ware )
  • 1966 Graduated from Kyoto Institute of Technology, Ceramics Industry Department
  • 1972 Selected for the 19th Japan Traditional Kōgei Exhibition (Selected several times from this year onward)
  • 1973 Selected for the 2nd Japan Ceramic Art Exhibition (Selected several times from this year onward)
  • 1976 Recommended as Full Member of the Japan Kogei Association
  • 1977 Succeeded the name of Sekisui ITO (5th generation)
  • 1980 Inivited to submit to the Contemporary Japanese Ceramics Exhibition at the National Museum of History, Taiwan
  • 1981 Inivited to submit to the Contemporary Japanese Ceramics Exhibition at the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History (Washington D.C.) and Victoria and Albert Museum (London)
  • 1982 Invited to submit to the "Daily Ceramics" Exhibition sponsored by NNS (Nippon Television Network System)
    Invited to submit to the 7th Hong Kong Festival of Asian Arts Contemporary Japanese Ceramics Exhibition
    Invited to submit to the 1st Nationally Selected Traditional Craft Artists Exhibition. (Submitted several times from this year onward)
  • 1983 Invited to submit to the "30 Years of Modern Japanese Traditional Crafts" Exhibition sponsored by The National Museum of Modern Art, Tokyo
    Artwork printed in "Modern Japanese Ceramic Arts" Vol. 9 published by Kodansha
  • 1985 Invited to submit to the Modern Ceramics Selection Exhibition sponsored by the Japan Ceramics Society (Submits several times from this year onward)
  • 1987 Judge and Evaluator at the East Japan Traditional Kōgei Exhibition
    Invited to submit to "Modern Japan Traditional Ceramic Art Exhibition", a traveling exhibition sponsored by The Japan Foundation
  • 1989 Recommended to sybmit to the Japan Ceramic Art Exhibition, submits several times from this year onward
    Judge abd evaluator at the East Japan Traditional Kōgei Exhibition
    Artwork printed in "Modern Japanese Ceramics" published by Tankosha
  • 1990 Evaluator at the East Japan Traditional Kōgei Exhibition
    Invited to submit to the Opening Commemorative Exhibition of The Ceramic Art Museum, Shigaraki Ceramic Cultural Park
    "The Full Picture and Outlook of Heisei Ceramic Art" Exhibition
  • 1991 Selected for the East Japan Traditional Kōgei Exhibition without being evaluated (Not evaluated from this year onward)
  • 1992 Artwork purchased by the Akishinonomiya Imperial Prince
  • 1993 Artwork printed in "Japanese Ceramics / Modern Volume" published by Chuo Koron
    "Mumyoi-ware Natural Ash Glazed Vase" presented to the Owada family as a wedding gift for Crown Princess Masako
    Artwork submitted to the "Modern Japanese Ceramics" Exhibition in New York from the Mary Griggs Burke Collection
  • 1994 Judge and Evaluator at the East Japan Traditional Kōgei Exhibition
    Mumyoi-ware Natural Ash Glazed Vase purchased by Victoria and Albert Museum (London)
  • 1995 Mumyoi-ware Natural Ash Glazed Vase printed in "Contemporary Japanese Crafts - Tradition and Avant-garde" published in the United Kingdom
    Submitted to auction for the Blanchette H. Rockefeller Fellowship Fund
    Submitted artwork to a bowl exhibition in Manhattan, New York
    Invited to submit to the "Japanese Studio Craft - Tradition and Avant-garde" Exhibition at Victoria and Albert Museum (London)
  • 1996 NHK BS TV program "Yakimono Tanbo - Sekisui Ito" filmed and broadcasted
  • 1997 Submitted to NHK's "Yakimono Tanbo" Exhibition
    "Ito Sekisui" - The World of Red and Flames 30th Anniversary Exhibition sponsored by Niigata Nippo
  • 1998 Judge and Evaluator at the East Japan Traditional Kōgei Exhibition
  • 1999 Judge and Evaluator at the Japan Traditional Kōgei Exhibition
    Commended by the Niigata Governor (Arts and Culture Category)
  • 2001 Judge and Evaluator at the East Japan Traditional Kōgei Exhibition
  • 2003 Invited to submit to the Japan Traditional Art Crafts 50th Anniversary Exhibition
    Designated as Holder of Important Intangible Cultural Property (Living National Treasure)
    "Living National Treasure Sekisui Ito" Anniversary Exhibition sponsored by Niigata Nippo
    Becomes Advisor of Japan Kogei Association
    Had an audience with the Emperor and Empress
    Tea ceremony for Holders of Important Intangible Cultural Property at the Imperial Palace
    Presented "Mumyoi Neriage Flower Patterned Incense Burner" to the Emperor and Empress through the governor of Niigata and Imperial Household Agency
    Invited to the Japan Ceramic Art Exhibition (Invited every time from this year onward)
  • 2004 Judge at the Japan Traditional Kōgei Exhibition
    Designated as Honorary Citizen of Aikawa City
    Invited to the "Japan's Traditional Art Crafts" Exhibition supported by the Agency for Cultural Affairs, exhibition tour to various cities in Japan
  • 2005 Received the Medal with Purple Ribbon
    "Japan's Traditional Art Crafts" Exhibition supported by the Agency for Cultural Affairs, exhibition tour to various cities in Japan
  • 2006 "Living National Treasure - 50th Anniversary Exhibition" at Takashimaya, sponsored by NHK
    Tour exhibition around Japan"
    "Living National Treasure 'Today' Exhibition" at Mitsukoshi
  • 2007 "Crafting Beauty in Modern Japan:Celebrating Fifty Years of the Japan Traditional Art Crafts Exhibition" at the British Museum, UK
    Evaluator at the Japan Traditional Kōgei Exhibition
    Chief Judge at the Ceramics Traditional Kōgei Exhibition
  • 2008 "Master Craftsmen of Japan - Their Techniques and Beauty" filmed and broadcasted on BS-i (currently BS-TBS)
  • 2009 Judge and Evaluator at the Japan Traditional Kōgei Exhibition
    Presented the "Mumyoi Neriage Plate" to the Crown Prince through the Governer of Niigata
  • 2010 Designated as Honorary Citizen of Sado City
    Received Honorary Doctorate from Kyoto Institute of Technology
  • 2011 Received The Order of the Rising Sun, Gold Rays with Rosette
    "Japanese Modern Ceramics - Supreme Beauty of Tradition and New Style" Exhibition at Seto City Museum of Art
    Masterpieces of the National Museum of Modern Art Tokyo's Craft Gallery Exhibition at Fukui Prefectural Museum of Ceramics
  • 2012 Ise Jungu National Treasure Exhibition
    Atsuta Jingu National Treasure Exhibition
  • 2013 "From Crafts to Kōgei In Commemoration of the 60th Japan Traditional Art Crafts Exhibition" at The National Museum of Modern Art, Tokyo
  • 2014 "The Quintessence of Modern Japanese Crafts" Exhibition at Palazzo Vecchio (Florence, Italy)
    "Engendering Beauty, Preserving Techniques: Artworks by Living National Treasures" Exhibition at Tokyo National Museum
    Evaluator at the Japan Traditional Kōgei Exhibition
    Chief Judge at the Ceramics Traditional Kōgei Exhibition
  • 2015 Documentary film "Mumyoi-ware 5th Generation Sekisui Ito's Techniques" produced by the Agency for Cultural Affairs
  • 2017 Solo Exhibition "Red Soil" in Manhattan, New York
  • 2018 "Large Bowl with Stripes" owned by the Metropolitan Museum of Art exhibited from November, 2018 to 2020 at the "Contemporary Japanese Ceramics in Historical Context" Exhibition

  • 1980Recieved the Incentive Award at the 20th East Japan Traditional Kōgei Exhibition
    Received the Incentive Award at the 27th Japan Traditional Kōgei Exhibition
  • 1985Received the Grand Prize and Chichibunomiya Award at the 8th Japan Ceramic Art Exhibition
  • 1987Received the Japan Ceramics Society Award
  • 1997Received the Prince Takamatsu Memorial Award at the 44th Japan Traditional Kōgei Exhibition
    Artwork purchased by the Agency for Cultural Affairs
  • 1998Received the Niigata Nippo Cultural Award (Art Category )
  • 2004Received the Special Award at a design competition for "Japan Plus", a government official bulletin for PR overseas

  • Agency for Cultural Affairs
  • The National Museum of Modern Art, Tokyo
  • The Japan Foundation
  • Ministry of Foreign Affairs
  • Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries
  • Ise Jingu
  • Ise JIngu Gegu Kaguraden
  • Ibaraki Ceramic Art Museum
  • The Museum of Ceramic Art, Hyogo
  • Niigata Prefectural Office
  • The Niigata Prefectural Museum of Modern Art
  • Niigata City
  • NHK Niigata Broadcasting Station
  • Tsurui Museum of Art
  • Niitsu House
  • Setsuryosha Museum of Art
  • Chisoku Art Museum
  • Sado International Art Museum
  • Aikawa Folk Museum
  • Victoria and Albert Museum (London)
  • The Mary Griggs Burke Collection
  • Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History (Washington D.C.)
  • The Metropolitan Museum of Art (New York)

Price Range

$ 19,000 - 33,000

The prices of the artworks on Gallery Japan are determined by the artists themselves and are published directly on the website.

60 artworks posted