Lotus and Crab bizen vase by Konishi Toko II (Mitsue) (1927-2018)

Konishi Toko II (Mitsue, 1927-2018), the second daughter of Konishi Toko I (1899-1954) learned pottery from her father. She became a successful female potter in a very male-centric Bizen ware pottery tradition.

Her father, Konishi Toko I (1899-1954), given name Toichiro, was a master of the Zanriri style Bizen ware, creating a unique combination of different shades of white, blue or grey on high-fired red pottery without using any artificial glaze but only oxidation during the firing.

Konishi Toko II devoted herself to even more research of Toko Sengiri color variations, and research of things like gloss and natural features. As the representative of the Toko kiln she contributed to the overall development of Bizen-ware, as she moved forward with promoting the manufacture and sale of practical pottery, and in 1979, demolished the existing kiln and built the highest noborigama (climbing kiln) in Bizen which is one of its famous spots.