Masayasu Chujou

Born in 1949 into a family whose livelihood centered on firing ceramics in Seto, Aichi, Chujo graduated from the Faculty of Engineering at Meiji University before deciding to pursue a career in ceramics, establishing his independent practice in 1973. The starting point of his artistic journey was a commission from a traditional Kyoto restaurant to create reproductions of works by Ogata Kenzan. He subsequently broadened his range of study to include Ninsei, Dohachi, and other masters, absorbing the classical aesthetics and techniques of overglaze enamel decoration. At the same time, he actively incorporated familiar motifs—including rabbits, cats, birds, and other animals—as well as imagery inspired by the cultures of the Orient that he has long admired. By freely combining these with classical forms and decorative techniques, Chujo has created a ceramic world that is uniquely his own. Guided by the philosophy of “Joyful Work, Joyful Vessels, Joyful Living,” Chujo's works embody the refined elegance of the courtly culture that Kenzan admired while at the same time embracing a playful spirit that naturally brings a smile to the viewer's face.