Though he was raised as a potter’s son, Hayashi Shotaro chose to pursue a life in business after high school. He eventually found a job with a company in Nagoya,...
Though he was raised as a potter’s son, Hayashi Shotaro chose to pursue a life in business after high school. He eventually found a job with a company in Nagoya, but life as a “salary man” did not satisfy him and he returned to his hometown to study pottery under his brother. His innate talent quickly manifested itself: in 1968 he received the highest award at the Gifu Prefectural Art Exhibition and in 1971 he received the Governor’s Award at the Asahi Ceramic Exhibition for his strong yet sensitive blending of tradition and innovation. He is the designated Important Intangible Cultural Property of Gifu Prefecture.
Hayashi works in the tradition of Shino ware, first developed in Japan during the Momoyama period in the 16th century. His robust forms are complimented by a softness of surface glaze that invites the viewer to relish the pleasures of the Shino technique.