Over the
number of trips we have taken to Japan, one of our go-to places was always
Shigaraki. We were fortunate to meet with a number of the Shigaraki and local
potters over the years and in doing so, we always made a point of visiting with
Tani Seiuemon (b.1913-d.?). His studio was not far at all from the train
station and he had a wide array of Ko-Shigaraki style pottery which he was
dedicated to producing. His pots were warm, genuine and inviting. Having built
an anagama in the early 1970's, his work maintained a consistent medieval
quality to it and from my perspective, his work is easy to recognize. Together
with his son, the current Seiuemon, the studio produced everything from
utilitarian pots to those for tea ceremony. Illustrated are three Ko-Shigaraki
style kogo made by Tani-san and given to my wife and I over three trips to his
studio, each with their own box and wrapped to survive their trip back to the
US. We could not have asked or dreamt of a finer presento from our visits to
Shigaraki and the home and studio of Tani-san.
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