Kutani fine-brush calligraphy 1980–
Seito Tamura
Seito Tamura
From the Man'yoshu to Mother Goose. The fourth generation, who treats the written character itself as design and widens what fine-brush calligraphy can be.
Born in Komatsu, Ishikawa Prefecture, in 1980. She graduated from the College of International Studies, University of Tsukuba, in 2004, and that same year began studying under her father, Keisei Tamura, the third generation of fine-brush calligraphy. In 2007 she completed the practical course at the Ishikawa Prefectural Institute of Kutani Pottery. In 2010 she set up on her own at Toyo Tamura, the studio in Takado-machi, Komatsu.
Kutani fine-brush calligraphy is a technique of writing classical literature, waka poems above all, onto porcelain with an extremely fine brush. Seizan Oda established it in the first generation; Kinsei Tamura, Seizan's son-in-law and the second generation, and Seito's great-grandfather, joined the fine writing to Kutani overglaze color. Through the third generation, Keisei, it has passed to Seito as the fourth. Hers is the only studio practicing the technique today.
- 1980Born in Komatsu, Ishikawa Prefecture
- 2004Graduates from the College of International Studies, University of Tsukuba. Begins studying under her father, Keisei Tamura
- 2007Completes the practical course at the Ishikawa Prefectural Institute of Kutani Pottery. Works at the prefecture's studio supporting independent Kutani craftspeople
- 2010Sets up on her own at Toyo Tamura, the studio in Takado-machi, Komatsu
- 2011Changes her artist's name from Natsuko to Seito. First solo exhibition at Seibu Shibuya
- 2024Takes part in “Visionary Women in Kutani: Women Carrying Kutani into the Future”