Yaichi Kusube

Place: Kyoto

Born: 1897

Death: 1984

Biography:

Kusube Yaichi was born in the Higashiyama district, Kyoto City, Japan in 1897. He was the fourth son of Sennosuke and Tomi Kusube. His father managed a pottery factory, and Yaichi was familiar with pottery since he was a child. In 1912, he attended the training school attached to the Kyoto City Ceramics Examination Center, where he met Kazusou Yagi, Kitaro Kawamura, and others. After graduating in 1915, Yaichi received an incentive prize at an exhibition sponsored by the Ceramic Youth Association. He then rented a studio in Awatayama and began his life as a potter. In 1918, he moved to a workshop in Awataguchi and started working seriously with pottery. Yaichi formed friendships with Tsunei Kawakami, Junkichi Mukai, Tatsuaki Kuroda, and Kanjiro Kawai. In 1920, he announced the rules of the pottery group 'Akado' with Kazusou Yagi, Kitaro Kawamura, Toshimasa Michibayashi, Einosuke Kawai, Yoshikage Araya, and others. The first Red Clay exhibition was held in Takashimaya, Osaka. Yaichi exhibited at the Japanese crafts exhibition and purchased by the Ministry of the Imperial Household in 1926. He formed Yoyo-kai with Kazusa Yagi, Kitaro Kawamura, Ein... In 1924, he exhibited and won awards at the Paris World's Fair. He also won awards at the Paris World’s Fair in 1936.