Hajime Kato(1900–1968) was a leading ceramic artist of the Shōwa period, born in Seto, Aichi Prefecture. She conducted meticulous research into ancient Chinese and Japanese ceramics and was particularly drawn to Ming dynasty coloured porcelain; she revived for the modern era sophisticated techniques that had been lost, such as ‘yellow ground with red decoration’ and ‘light green with gold brocade decoration’. Going beyond mere restoration, she incorporated her own refined sense of colour and design into the classical style, thereby establishing her own unique style of coloured porcelain. In 1961, she was designated a Holder of Important Intangible Cultural Properties (Living National Treasure) for coloured porcelain.

The first thing one senses when viewing Moe Kato’s works is an intellectual tension lying beneath the vivid colours. Whilst employing strong colours such as red, yellow, green and gold, her work never descends into mere flashiness; instead, patterns and negative space are meticulously composed. In particular, her works featuring ‘red-painted on a yellow ground’ and ‘kinrande’ techniques convey a deep respect for ancient Chinese ceramics and a strong determination to transform them into her own form of expression.

To me, Moe Kato Haji’s works appear to be a form of ceramics in which the eye of a scholar researching ancient ceramics and the sensibility of an artist who creates beauty are united as one. I believe that the unique charm of Moe Kato Haji lies in the fact that her works are magnificent yet never lose their dignity, and the more one examines the details, the more the depth of her technique and design becomes apparent.