Okada Yu/New Yamaguchi Prefecture Intangible Cultural Property

Congratulations are in order for the humble Hagi ceramic artist Okada Yu(formely Yutaka, b.1946.) as he was recently designated a Yamaguchi Prefecture Intangible Cultural Property. I've visited him many times taking visiting groups there and he always explains how he never wanted to be a potter and left the countryside to attend prestigious Keio University in Tokyo. After working for a company upon graduation he then realized a cramped neon life was not for him. He's now the eighth master of Senshu-gama. Some more about Okada and the history of his kiln can be read here: www.e-yakimono.net/html/hagi-artists.html#okada2