Peg-shaped Bizen Vase by LNT Jun ISEZAKI

Born in Okayama Prefecture, Japan, Isezaki Jun is a master of Bizen ware and one of the five Living National Treasures in this tradition, designated in 2004. Hailing from a distinguished family of potters, he trained under his father, Isezaki Yōzan, a specialist in decorative figural works, while his elder brother, Isezaki Mitsuru, focused on teaware. Developing his own distinctive style, Isezaki Jun combines boldness with a sense of lightness, creating works that honor tradition while reflecting a modern aesthetic.

Isezaki is renowned for his mastery of the Anagama kiln, a single-chamber, tunnel-like kiln ideal for natural wood-ash firing, revived by him in 1961. His works also showcase the historic Hidasuki technique, where rice-straw cords soaked in seawater are wrapped around the pot before firing. The cords burn away, leaving red iron stripes on the clay, a technique practiced since the 16th century. Through his careful planning and understanding of chance effects in firing, Isezaki brings a contemporary sensibility to centuries-old methods, often incorporating geometric patterns alongside traditional textures.

November 2025: Honoured with the Bunka Kōrōsha (Person of Cultural Merit) distinction, one of Japan’s highest cultural awards, presented by the Emperor of Japan.