Celadon Vase by Kozan MAKUZU

Also known as Miyagawa Kozan, MAKUZU Kozan was one of the most celebrated potters of the Meiji era, renowned for bridging Japan’s traditional ceramic artistry with the aesthetics of a rapidly modernizing world. Born in Kyoto, he relocated his studio in 1870 to the port city of Yokohama, where his exceptional skill and entrepreneurial spirit flourished.

Kozan’s early works, inspired by classical Japanese and Chinese ceramics, captivated Western audiences eager for the refined beauty of Japanese craftsmanship. His mastery of both form and glaze quickly established him as one of the leading figures in Japan’s export porcelain industry. Within Japan, his artistry was equally revered — his reputation reaching new heights when the Meiji Emperor himself touched one of his vases at the First National Industrial Exhibition in 1877, a moment that cemented his national prestige.

Through his innovative techniques and elegant designs, Makuzu Kozan transformed Yokohama into a hub of artistic excellence and helped define the international image of Japanese ceramics in the modern age.