Short shouldered vase by LNT Tokuda YASOKICHI III

Tokuda Yasokichi III (born Masahiko) was a third-generation master of Kutani ware who redefined the tradition through his distinctive use of vivid enamel glazing, known as saiy?. Trained by his grandfather and father, he inherited closely guarded glaze formulas and a deep understanding of Kutani’s characteristic palette of blue, green, yellow, and purple—deliberately omitting red. Through his innovative saiy? technique, which fused tradition with bold experimentation, Tokuda moved beyond conventional outlines to create abstract, radiant works in which color itself became the primary subject. In doing so, he transformed the aesthetic language of Kutani ware and established himself as one of the most influential Japanese ceramic artists of the 20th century.

Among his many honors are the Chairman’s Award from the Japan Traditional Art Crafts Association (1977), the Grand Prize at the International Pottery & Porcelain Exhibition (1990), and the Medal with Purple Ribbon (1993). In 1997, he was designated a Living National Treasure of Japan for his achievements in polychrome enamel porcelain.

His work is represented in major museum collections around the world, including the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the British Museum, the Victoria & Albert Museum, the Smithsonian Institution, and the Indianapolis Museum of Art.