Soectacular vase in Manyosai glaze, invented by Hayashi Shotaro.

Hayashi Shotaro was born in 1947 in Toki, a city renowned for its ceramics tradition. Although Hayashi initially pursued a business career as a salaryman in Nagoya, he quickly returned to ceramics, his true calling, in 1967, where he studied under his older brother, Kotaro. He quickly demonstrated his exceptional talent by winning the Governor's Prize at the 1971 Asahi Ceramics Exhibition. In 1974, he established his own kiln in Toki and began to forge his own path in the ceramics world, quickly establishing himself as a renowned artist.

He has won several awards, including the Excellence Award at the Asahi Ceramics Exhibition in 1972 and 1973. His works are now exhibited in numerous museums and private collections, both in Japan and internationally, and he is recognized as a pioneer of the Mino ceramics revival.
Hayashi Shotaro, passionate about the history of Japanese ceramics, has studied traditional techniques with great rigor, integrating them into his own style. His understanding of ancient glazes and his ability to modernize them while preserving their essence make him a respected master ceramist.

In 1994, Hayashi received the prestigious Mino Ceramic Art Grand Prize, recognizing his mastery of ancestral techniques and his contribution to the evolution of this art. In 1997, he was also honored with the Shoroku Prize, an award given to artists who have enriched the artistic culture of Gifu Prefecture. This vase is a perfect demonstration of the balance Hayashi manages to create between tradition and modernity in his works.

In 2002, Hayashi was designated an Important Cultural Property by the city of Toki, a recognition that recognizes his crucial role in the preservation and transmission of Japanese ceramic art. In 2012, he also received the same distinction from Gifu Prefecture, one of the highest honors bestowed upon an artist.

26 x 12 x 12 cm
Signed, original box signed