Yoshito Takenishi
Yoshito Takenishi is a Japanese ceramic artist based in Tobe, Ehime, a region long known for Tobe ware and its distinctive porcelain tradition. Born in Tobe and raised watching his father, potter Yasuo Takenishi, he naturally entered the world of ceramics. After taking over his father’s kiln, originally founded in 1965, he renamed it Joshua Studio in 2001 and began pursuing a new direction in Tobe ware.
A New Vision for Tobe Ware
Joshua Studio takes its name from the Book of Joshua in the Old Testament, reflecting Takenishi’s desire to move toward new creative territory while remaining rooted in tradition. Based in Tobe, where pottery stone suited to porcelain has long supported the making of Tobe ware, the studio respects the region's heritage while also pushing beyond its conventional patterns and colors.
Joshua Blue and the Depth of Color
Takenishi is especially known for Joshua Blue, a striking blue gradation he developed after years of research into clay and glaze. Inspired by the Seto Inland Sea and the sky of Iyo, the color carries a sense of depth, calm, and movement. Often created through a spray technique rather than hand-painting, the surface gains a soft, immersive gradation that has become one of Joshua Studio’s most distinctive expressions.
Tradition, Design, and Individual Expression
Alongside work produced under Joshua Studio, Takenishi also works as an individual artist, exploring forms ranging from everyday vessels to more formal, expressive pieces. His practice reflects both deep respect for the tradition of Tobe ware and a willingness to expand its visual language through color, texture, and contemporary design.
Yoshito Takenishi Ceramics at WAZA Tokyo
At WAZA Tokyo, we are honored to introduce two distinctive designs by Yoshito Takenishi: Seto Blue and Shima White. Seto Blue reflects the quiet depth and fluid beauty that have become synonymous with Joshua Studio, while Shima White offers a softer, more understated expression of his work. Together, these two designs reveal Takenishi’s ability to move between clarity and warmth, creating ceramics that feel both rooted in tradition and effortlessly modern.