Kaizhi Tsukamoto (1912–1990) was a ceramic artist born in Toki City, Gifu Prefecture, and is renowned as a master of white porcelain and pale blue-white porcelain. Raised in a Mino-yaki pottery family, he conducted in-depth research into Song Dynasty porcelain from China whilst developing his own distinctive style characterised by elegant forms and pure glaze colours. In particular, his works—in which patterns of flowers and plants are carved into semi-dry clay and then covered with a pale blue-white glaze—clearly express both his respect for classical traditions and a contemporary sensibility. In 1983, he was designated a Holder of Important Intangible Cultural Property (Living National Treasure) for ‘White Porcelain and Blue-White Porcelain’.

When viewing Kaishi Tsukamoto’s works, one is struck by the astonishingly rich expressiveness found within a limited colour palette of white and pale blue. The carved floral patterns do not assert themselves forcefully but emerge quietly from beneath the glaze, creating soft shadows across the entire vessel. The National Museum of Japanese Crafts also holds a large collection of his blue-white and white porcelain works. To me, Kaishi Tsukamoto’s ceramics seem to be works that, by omitting ornate decoration, reveal the inherent beauty of form and light itself. Their quiet, refined presence and the meticulous attention to detail are their greatest charms.