SHOFU: Japan

Kyoto, Japan

Shofu Kajo or Shofu Katei III (1870 to 1928) was born into a traditional pottery family from Seto, and early on recognized as a ceramics prodigy. Later he moved to Kyoto where he was adopted into the prestigious Shofu family, which ran a kiln creating Kiyomizu-style ceramics. Ultimately, he would inherit the Shofu family business and continue making traditional Japanese pottery. However, he grew up during the Meiji Period when Japan was quickly learning western industrial technologies. Consequently, he incorporated European ceramic techniques (i.e., painting, firing, and forming) to the traditional Japanese pottery methods, mass-producing porcelain products. Naturally, as a potter, he started with dinnerware that could be exported to Western countries. But he went further by making other porcelain products, such as insulators and dentures! To produce these super durable items, he developed extremely advanced processes and techniques. Shofu Ceramics was incorporated in 1922. Shofu remains in business as a dental materials and equipment manufacturer.

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