Noudou Fujimoto (1919–1992) was a leading ceramic artist of the Shōwa period, born in Tokyo. He studied crafts at the Tokyo School of Fine Arts and, whilst influenced by artists such as Kenkichi Tomimoto and Moe Kato-Haji, developed his own distinctive style in coloured porcelain. Taking familiar elements of nature—such as flowers, birds and fruit—as his subjects, he developed a unique style that, whilst realistic, evokes a painterly atmosphere. In 1986, he was designated a Living National Treasure as a holder of the Important Intangible Cultural Property in the field of coloured porcelain.

In Fujimoto Nori Michi’s works, the white surface of the porcelain is treated as if it were a canvas. Although bird feathers, tree fruits and the changing colours of leaves are depicted with great delicacy, these are not mere sketches; one can sense the atmosphere of the season and the quiet passage of time within them. To me, these works seem to naturally transcend the boundary between pottery and painting, imbuing coloured porcelain with a poetic quality. I believe that the unique charm of Norimichi Fuji lies in the way his works convey a gentle gaze upon nature, rather than mere splendour.