More Meiji Imari
KORANSHA & FUKAGAWA PORCELAIN COMPANY
香蘭社 深川製磁
KORANSAHA was started by Fukagawa Eizaemon, Fukaumi Suminosuke & his brother Takeji, Tsuji Katsuzo and Tezuka Kamenosuke in Meiji 8th ( 1875 ) to produce mostly export porcelain ware to Europe & America. In 1879, Fukaumi and other members left a company and Koransha was reestablished by Eizaemon. After his death in 1889, his oldest son, Yotaro succeeded the company while his second son, Chuji Fukagawa started Fukagawa Porcelain Company.
Fukagawa Eizaemon ( 1833-1889 )
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SEIJISHA 精磁社
SEIJISHA was founded by original four members of Koransha in 1879. They were Tezuka Kamenosuke,Tsujii Katsuzo, Fukaumi Suminosuke & his brother, Takeji. With modernizing its techniques and management of the company system , Seijisha Company was able to make high quality and beautiful porcelain ware for the Western market and increase the volume of export from Japan. Unfortunately after several years the company went through difficulty because of Fukaumi's death and soon after Tuji left.
Seijisha was a symbol of Japanese modern porcelain industry in Meiji period and left an important mark in the history.
GENROKU 源六
Tominaga Genroku (1859-1920) was an important figure in the Japanese porcelain world of his time. He began Genroku Studio (Genroku gama in Japanese) during Meiji period with the goal of producing highest quality porcelain in the traditional manner of Imari from the 18th century. His roots and traditional techniques could be traced back to one of the oldest kilns in the early Imari History which was called "Ureshino Yaki". The earliest Ureshino Yaki was produced by a group of potters who lived and worked in Ureshino area a bit south of Arita starting in the late 16th to early 17th centuries. The Ureshino Yaki potters operated under the protection of Lord Nabeshima in the mid 18th century, and produced porcelain ware including sake bottles called " Ureshino Tokkuri". Toward the end of Feudal Edo to the dawn of Modern Meiji, the production of Ureshino Yaki was declined both in quantities and qualities and finally ceased its work at the beginning of the Meiji. Later in the mid-Meiji, Genroku Tominaga revitalized this kiln and it was named " Genroku" gama. After his death, his sons continued the kiln, but they had a difficult time. Genroku kiln lasted until 1934.
