Celebrating the 15th anniversary of Tokuda Yasokichi’s succession to the Kutani ware name, his first large-scale ceramic work will be unveiled at “Urecious Komatsu,” a redevelopment building in the Komatsu Station East District that opened on October 23rd. Otsuka Ohmi Ceramics Co., Ltd. Press Release: October 23, 2025 To Members of the Media Celebrating the 15th anniversary of Tokuda Yasokichi’s succession to the Kutani ware name, his first large-scale ceramic panel work will be unveiled at “Urecious Komatsu,” a redevelopment building in the Komatsu Station East District that opened on October 23rd. ~A new challenge utilizing Otsuka Ohmi Ceramics’ art production techniques~ Tokuda Yasokichi, the fourth-generation potter of Kutani ware, a traditional craft of the southern Kaga region, and Otsuka Ohmi Ceramics Co., Ltd.
(Headquarters: Osaka Prefecture; President and CEO: Osugi Eiji; hereinafter “Otsuka Ohmi Ceramics”), a manufacturer of ceramic panel masterpieces, have collaborated on a large-scale ceramic panel work for the first time this year, marking the 15th anniversary of Tokuda Yasokichi’s succession to the name. This work will be installed as a ceramic pillar in Urecious Komatsu, a new multi-purpose building opening this fall east of Komatsu Station in Komatsu City, Ishikawa Prefecture, and will be open to the public from October 23rd. Image
URL: https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/163309/3/163309-3-9d99e7832eec470ac2e32cb5836d5829-3900×2675.jpg
large-scale work was completed thanks to Otsuka Ohmi Ceramics’ precise production techniques for expressing art and its unparalleled ability to bake large ceramic panels without distortion. Eiji Osugi, President and CEO of Otsuka Ohmi Ceramics, commented, “We are truly grateful for the opportunity to participate in this project. Creating a work that embodies Professor Tokuda’s thoughts was a new challenge for our company. We hope that this work will be beloved by visitors to the facility and local residents alike.” Fourth-generation master, Yasokichi Tokuda, also commented, “Together with everyone at Otsuka Ohmi Ceramics, we repeatedly tried and tested different gradations of color, striving for the best possible result. Now that the ceramic tile is complete, I’m thrilled to hear comments from those around me saying it’s a tile that truly reflects the style of the
fourth-generation master. I’d also like to express my sincere gratitude to everyone involved for giving me the opportunity to take on this new challenge 15 years after taking on the name.” We believe this work will provide a new opportunity to experience the culture of the Southern Kaga region up close. Otsuka Ohmi Ceramics will continue to take on various challenges to deepen and spread understanding of the cultures of each region. * Facility Overview Hokuriku Shinkansen Komatsu Station East Area Complex Building “Urecious Komatsu” (Hokuriku Electric Power Company) https://www.komadenhall.jp/ Image
URL: https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/163309/3/163309-3-22c5e998b4c8a27430a15750480a2997-2290×2700.jpg Urecious Komatsu *Work summary A large ceramic pillar featuring the design of Tokuda Yasokichi’s masterpieces, “Mizuho” and “Shojo.” *Installation location (1) Foyer (two “Mizuho” ceramic pillars, 3m high x 80cm wide) (2) Komatsu Hokuden Hall (“Shojo” ceramic pillars, 5m high x 90cm wide)
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/163309/3/163309-3-9d0bd589076dc09adfff2a1d4d65e3db-2259×2022.jpg Colored glazed pot, Mizuho
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/163309/3/163309-3-02c7139f1b8ed47ce56673b247153bc4-3900×2925.jpg Foyer/ceramic pillars
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/163309/3/163309-3-30528c20e0e03e1ea42b2653dcc9d929-1449×1150.jpg Colored glazed jar, shōjū
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/163309/3/163309-3-13c7a2a5050fa1e54c0c094e0761070b-2025×2700.jpg Komatsu Hokuden Hall – Ceramic Pillar (Reference) ■Kutani ware Potter Yasokichi Tokuda IV Born in 1961 in Komatsu City, Ishikawa Prefecture, as the eldest daughter of Living National Treasure Yasokichi Tokuda III. Graduated from Ishikawa Prefectural Komatsu High School in 1980 and studied abroad at Jamestown High School in the United States. 1983 Graduated from Aoyama Gakuin Women’s Junior College 1984-1986 NHK Kanazawa Broadcasting Station (Newscaster) 1986-1989 Secretary to her father, Yasokichi III. Visited countries around the world as part of a kimono mission 1990: Graduated from the Ishikawa Prefectural Kutani Ware Technical Training Institute. Selected for the 46th Prefectural Exhibition, Asahi Ceramic Art Exhibition ’90. 1991: Created the ceramic wall “Dourin” (JR Kanazawa Station). Subsequently, created works at the Komatsu Sukoyaka Center and elsewhere. Completed Kanpei Pottery Studio He began his creative career at Kinpei. 1997: A collaborative ceramic mural created in Gateshead, England, won the Grand Prix at the Japan Festival Awards. Taught ceramics at the Kuala Lumpur College of Art, Malaysia. 2010: He assumed the name of Tokuda Yasokichi IV (and at the same time changed his name from Junko to Yasokichi). (Name changed) 2012: Recommended as a full member of the Japan Kogei Association 2015: Created ceramic panels for the gate-shaped pillars of the JR Kanazawa Station concourse 2016: 250th Anniversary of Hikiyama Festival Participated in the collaborative production of the Gosai Hikiyama (Komatsu City) (production of the flower path) 2017 Participated in the collaborative production of the “Kutani Gosai Hashira” at AEON Mall Shin-Komatsu (3 pieces) March 2018 Solo exhibition at Onishi Gallery, New York 2024 In 2015, in conjunction with the extension of the Hokuriku Shinkansen to Tsuruga, I participated in a collaborative ceramic panel project at JR Komatsu Station. Participated in the collaborative production of works to be exhibited at the Local Japan Exhibition at the 2025 Osaka-Kansai Expo (July 28th – 31st) ■Awards Technical Award, 31st Traditional Kutani Ware Crafts Exhibition (2008) Kinoshita Memorial Award, 71st Issui-kai Ceramics Club Open Exhibition (2009) Grand Prize, 33rd Traditional Kutani Ware Crafts Exhibition (2010) Encouragement Award, 51st Ishikawa Traditional Crafts Exhibition (2010) 72nd Issuikai Ceramics Club Open Exhibition, Issuikai Award (2010) 35th Traditional Kutani Ware Crafts Exhibition, Excellence Award (2012) 68th Contemporary Art Exhibition, FM Ishikawa President’s Award (2012) 53rd Ishikawa Traditional Crafts Exhibition, Encouragement Award (2012) Kanazawa Castle and Kenrokuen Grand Tea Ceremony, 18th Crafts Competition Encouragement Award (2012), 55th Ishikawa Traditional Crafts Exhibition Japan Crafts Association Award (2014), Kanazawa Castle and Kenrokuen Grand Tea Ceremony, 20th Crafts Competition Encouragement Award (2014) 71st Contemporary Art Exhibition Hokkoku Prize (2015) 39th Traditional Kutani Ware Crafts Exhibition Association Chairman’s Award (2016) 4th Ceramics Exhibition Encouragement Award (2016) 73rd Contemporary Art Exhibition Honorable Mention Award (2017) Nomi City Mayor’s Award, 74th Contemporary Art Exhibition (2018) Hokuriku Shimbun Award, 43rd Traditional Kutani Ware Crafts Exhibition (2020) Technology Award, 48th Traditional Kutani Ware Crafts Exhibition (2025) URL: http://www.tokuda-yasokichi4th.jp/ YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCWBZ2Xw1Z0IoSgSEar-DoAw Otsuka Ohmi Ceramics Co., Ltd. Otsuka Ohmi Ceramics, a subsidiary of Otsuka Holdings, aims to contribute to people by passing on cultural assets and works of art not only from Japan but from around the world to future generations through creative ceramic panel (toban) works. Our work includes projects related to the preservation and utilization of cultural assets, such as the Otsuka Museum of Art (Tokushima Prefecture), the production of high-resolution replicas of national treasures such as the Wind Gods and Thunder Gods Screen, and the roof renovation of the National Diet Building Central Wing (Tokyo). We also produce works by artists such as Hiroshi Senju’s “Tree of the Four Seasons” for Akasaka Biz Tower (Tokyo) and Takenobu Igarashi’s “Rhythm of the Waves” for Daimon Station on the Oedo Subway Line (Tokyo). We strive to create products that bring culture and art closer to people. Established: July 1973 (Showa 48) Capital: 100 million yen
Representative: President and CEO, Osugi Eiji Headquarters: 3-2-21 Ote-dori, Chuo-ku, Osaka 540-0021 Number of employees: 65 (as of September 1, 2025) Business activities: Large ceramic tiles, ceramic tile masterpieces, ceramic wall reliefs, terracotta, OT ceramics, ceramic portrait tiles, ceramic sign tiles, various design,
production, and installation URL: https://www.ohmi.co.jp/ Company information: https://www.ohmi.co.jp/company/brochure/img/Japanese2023.pdf