Japanese Antique Arts Shop

北大路魯山人

Rosanjin Kitaoji

Rosanjin Kitaoji　1883～1959

　Rosanjin Kitaoji was born in Kyoto as the second son of Kiyoaya Kitaoji.
Real name is Fusajiro, and other names are Kaisa and Rokei and Rosanjin and Mukyo.
At the same time as birth, Grew up in an adversity that changed his family.
Adopted by wood engraver Takezo Fukuda in 1889.
After graduating from Umeya jinjyo primary school in 1893,
Went to Nijo karasuma chinese medicine store “Chisaka wayakuya”.
Impressed with Seiho Takeuchi’s japanese painting at the 4th National industrial exhibition,
Wanted to be a japanese painter in 1895.
Quit the service and asked adoptive father to go to Kyoto painting school,
Help with family woodcut work in 1896.
Wanted to be a calligrapher in 1897.
The western signboards make a lot of income and are called “teacher” in the neighborhood in 1899.
Received the first and second prize at the Japanese art exhibition in 1904,
The award winning work was bought by minister of the imperial household Mitsuaki Tanaka.
Studied under calligrapher Katei Okamoto in 1905,
Written by Teikoku life insurance company as “Kaitsu Fukuda”.
Independent of Katei in 1907, The sign of professor calligraphy was raised as “Outei Fukuda”.
Married Tami Yasumi in 1908.
Get acquainted with Rihachi Fujii and know his daughter Seki.
Went to Korea with mother Tome in 1910.
Became the secretary of the Korean printing bureau in 1911.
Met with Goshouseki in Shanghai in 1912.
Named “Taikan”, Which means “overlooking the world” in 1913,
While holding the calligraphy classroom,
Gained the reputation through writing and seal engraving.
Met Seiho Takeuchi and was asked to produce the seal.
Divorced with Tami in 1914.
“Kitaoji” has been restored to the last name in 1915.
Become the house guest of Entai Hosono in Kanazawa,
Try to underglaze blue and overglaze polychrome enamel under Seika Suda through Entai.
Married Seki Fujii in 1916.
Named “Taikan Kitaoji” and “Rokei Kitaoji”.
Met Takeshiro Nakamura in 1917.
Established “Taigado art store” with Takeshiro Nakamura in Tokyo kyobashi in 1919.
Moved to the rental house in North kamakura.
From this time onwards, Named “Rosanjin”.
Renamed as “Taigado art store” in 1920.
The dish will be served the old ceramics at the Taigado art store.
Membership system “Gourmet club” was established on the second floor of Taigado art store in 1921.
Moved to North kamakura.
Began producing tableware for Gourmet club at the Seika Suda kiln and Tozan Miyanaga kiln in 1922.
Officially inherited the family and named “Rosanjin”.
Taigado art store and Gourmet club were destroyed by the Great kanto earthquake in 1923.
The gourmet club will be reopened at the “Hana no chaya”in Shiba park.
Produced more than 5,000 pieces of celadon and tableware for 100 people at the Tozan Miyanaga kiln in 1924,
Got to know Toyozo Arakawa, Who was the factory manager.
The renovation work has begun by borrowing the “Hoshigaoka saryo” located in the precincts of the Hie shrine in Tokyo.
Came up with the sale of chinese stationery to raise funds for opening the Hoshigaoka saryo,
Visit Goshouseki in Shanghai.
Made a big profit by selling after returning home.
Hoshigaoka saryo opened as a high class restaurant in 1925.
Takeshiro Nakamura is the president and Rosanjin is the advisor and chef,
Gained a reputation for entertainment and tableware.
Will increase members as the social place.
Met Fujio Koyama at the Zoroku Mashimizu kiln.
In search of the ideal tableware to be used at the Hoshigaoka saryo in 1927,
“Seikou kiln” was built in Yamazaki, kamakura city, kanagawa prefecture.
Welcome Toyozo Arakawa from Tozan Miyagawa kiln as the chief,
Built the “Old pottery reference hall” that displays the collections of Rosanjin,
And the tea room “Mukyoan”.
The signboard of “Rosanjin kiln institute Seikou kiln” was raised.
Divorced Seki and married Kiyo Nakajima.
With the motto of “Zahenshiyu”, including Oribe and Shino and Kizeto,
Developed ceramics in search of ideals up to Kyo ware such as Kenzan and Ninsei and Dohachi.
Kuninomiya highness came to the kiln in 1928.
Calpis president kaiun Mishima opened the“Gin saryo” in Ginza as the branch of Hoshigaoka saryo in 1929.
When Toyozo Arakawa discovers Shino ceramic pieces in Mutabora of Ogaya in 1930,
“Seikou” was published with the main theme of discovery of the Mino kiln.
Gin saryo is directly managed by Hoshigaoka saryo in 1933.
Opened “Osaka Hoshigaoka saryo” and gained popularity among food lovers in Kansai in 1935.
From this time, the relationship with Takeshiro Nakamura deteriorated due to the management policy.
Succeeded in reproducing Momoyama ware such as Shino and Oribe and Kizedo in the first kiln using the Seto style large ascending kiln.
The total number of members of the Hoshigaoka saryo is over 2,000,
It is said that if you are not the member of Hoshigaoka, you are not the japanese celebrity.
Received a notice of dismissal from Takeshiro Nakamura for the reason of free management in 1936.
Changed the signboard to “Rosanjin ceramic institute”,
Based on the Hoshigaoka kiln, Determined to proceed with the single pottery.
From this time, the use of the name “Rokei” gradually decreases.
Looking at the situation of Rosanjin who lost confidence due to dismissal,
The request to produce ceramics for gifts came from Kinya Nagao of “Wakamoto” and the top of the company that supported it,
Will gradually regain confidence.
Kiyo ran away with the former Seikou kiln craftsman and divorced in 1938.
Opened “Sankai club” at the Nihonbashi shirokiya head office food department.
From this time, Begins to lean on Ryokan.
Married Mume Kumada.
Divorced with Mume in 1939.
A large amount of ceramics and lacquerware were produced as tableware at the inn.
“Fukudaya” in Tokyo and “Hasshoukan” in Nagoya are famous as restaurants related to Rosanjin.
Married Umeka in 1940.
Focused on painting.
Divorced with Umeka in 1942.
Devoted to lacquer art during the war in 1943.
Osaka hoshigaoka saryo and Tokyo Hoshigaoka saryo and Gin saryo were burned down by air raid in 1945.
The asset problem with Takeshiro Nakamura has been settled.
Toyoko Shirono opened the “Kado kado bibou” exclusive store for Rosanjin in Ginza in 1947.
The work of Rosanjin attracted the occupation officers,
A major change will occur in the consciousness of Rosanjin who have only dealt with japanese people, And it will become global.
Yutaka Mafune established the “Seishin club” the art lovers group that surrounds the Rosanjin.
Established “Rosanjin craft shop” in 1948.
The seikou kiln that was resting during the war was reopened.
Often visit Toyo Kaneshige kiln in 1949.
Picasso praised Red shino dish of Rosanjin for Contemporary japanese painting ceramic art exhibition in Valoris, Southern france in 1951.
Visited Isamu Noguchi and Toyo Kaneshige kiln to create Bizen works in 1952.
Toyo Kaneshige and Kei Fujiwara visited and built the Bizen ware kiln in house in 1953.
Isamu Noguchi recommendation in 1954,
At the invitation of Rockefeller who was president of the Japan and america society,
Lectures and exhibitions were held around the America with about 200 works.
It was well received at the MoMA in New york and the Freer museum in Washington.
Get to know Kiichiro Zenta of Zenta shoundo through the introduction of Yusai Maeda in 1955.
Received the recommendation from the Human national treasure in Oribe ware, But declined.
Died of cirrhosis in 1959.
The personality is not honored, The late Rosanjin had a bad reputation,
The work after death seemed to fall,
When the Rosanjin boom that occurred in the America was reimported, The price of the work rose quickly.
As a painter, seal engraver, calligrapher, cook specialist, potter, lacquer artist,
Continued to seek the essence of gastronomy and ancient ceramics.
Pursuing the charm of japanese cuisine as embodied in the word “Dish ware as a kimono for food”
The various trials practiced by Rosanjin are now part of the japanese cuisine.
The insight that puts emphasis on the practicality of pottery has greatly contributed to the interest in food and dishs in recent years.
Characterized by the free spirited act with elegance and depth,
The uniqueness is demonstrated in Overglaze polychrome enamel bowl with camellia design,
Oribe and Bizen dish plates.
It is also known as the model of Yuzan Kaibara, The character of the manga “Oishinbo”.