Hirohisa Kondo

Hirohisa Kondo is a Japanese ceramic artist based in Mizunami, Gifu, in the historic Mino region of Japan. Born in 1975 in Hanbara, Mizunami, Kondo studied ceramics at Tajimi Technical High School before later training under his father, potter Seiko Kondo of Hanzawa Kiln, who had himself apprenticed under the influential ceramic artist and scholar Koyama Fujio. Rooted in this lineage, Hirohisa Kondo creates works that honor the depth of Mino pottery while expressing a quiet strength of their own.

Wood-Fired Ceramics from the Mountains of Mino

Kondo works in the mountains of Gifu, surrounded by the natural landscape of Mino. According to exhibition materials, he uses clay dug from the local mountains and glazes made from the ashes of nearby plants and trees, then fires his works in traditional wood-fired climbing kilns and anagama kilns. This process gives his ceramics a strong sense of place, shaped not only by the maker's hand but also by soil, ash, flame, and time.

Ash Glaze, Kohiki, and Black Glaze

Kondo is especially known for works in ash glaze, kohiki, and black glaze. Exhibition texts describe these pieces as carrying the warmth of natural materials and the living effects of fire, with no two works ever the same. His surfaces often balance rustic depth with refined form, creating ceramics that feel at once grounded, expressive, and deeply tactile.

A Living Mino Tradition

Writers and curators have described Hanzawa Kiln as a place where the spirit of Mino Momoyama ceramics remains alive. Kondo’s work reflects that connection to historical Japanese pottery, yet it does not feel nostalgic or fixed in the past. Instead, his vessels, flower containers, tea wares, sake wares, and tableware carry old techniques into the present through natural texture, careful form, and a quiet, contemporary presence. This characterization—that his work brings historical Mino practices into a contemporary setting—is an interpretation based on descriptions of his materials, firing methods, and exhibition framing.

Hirohisa Kondo Ceramics at WAZA Tokyo

At WAZA Tokyo, we are drawn to Hirohisa Kondo’s ability to let the natural world remain visible in clay. His work carries the warmth of earth, ash, and flame, yet never feels heavy. Instead, each piece offers a quiet sense of depth—objects shaped by traditional wood-firing, local materials, and a deep respect for the enduring beauty of Mino ceramics. His works feel equally compelling as functional vessels and as sculptural presences in the home. This final description reflects WAZA Tokyo’s curatorial perspective on the qualities documented in his practice and exhibitions.