Veiled in Silver Light
Nakada Kazuo
His porcelain is marked by remarkable clarity and depth of color, with blues that evoke the sky and sea, both rich and luminous. Even within the world of Kutani ware—famed for its vibrant polychrome palettes—his work commands an overwhelming presence. This is not achieved through traditional pigments, but through a masterful technique unique to Nakada Kazuo: a fusion of silver leaf and translucent glazes that has given birth to an entirely new realm of Kutani porcelain.
Discovering Yuri-ginsai: A Technique without Equal
The journey of Nakada is a history of honoring tradition while simultaneously breaking free from it. Born the eldest son of a kiln owner in the heart of Kutani production, he initially worked in industrial-based manufacturing. However, through interactions with masters such as Tokuda Yasokichi III and Yoshita Minori, he began to seek, in his own words, “a form of expression that only I could achieve."
"Create something no one else is doing—something uniquely your own." These words from Tokuda Yasokichi III drove Nakada toward an unconventional material: silver leaf. At the time, silver was largely shunned in the ceramic world due to its tendency to oxidize and blacken. Yet, Nakada saw a hidden potential. He discovered that by coating silver leaf with translucent glaze, he could seal it away from the air, permanently preserving its brilliance. This became the technique known as yuri-ginsai (underglaze silver leaf).
In Search of a Personal Expression
The hallmark of Nakada’s yuri-ginsai lies in his original palette of elegantly soft-toned glazes. While based on the vibrant gosai (five colors) traditionally used in Kutani ware, these glazes are meticulously formulated with a minimal amount of pigment to achieve a far more delicate and ethereal translucency. By applying these over a silver-leafed surface before the final firing, he creates a profound sense of depth. The silver leaf patterns appear as if submerged deep beneath a faint veil of color, shimmering exquisitely through the translucent layers of the glaze.
Among the four glazes he has developed to date, the pale blue glaze holds a special significance, as it was the catalyst for Nakada’s lifelong commitment to the yuri-ginsai technique. The discovery of this harmony—the neat, pure texture of silver leaf layered with a sophisticated, modern blue—became the defining element of his unique aesthetic.
Expanding the World of Kutani
In 2025, Nakada was designated a Holder of Important Intangible Cultural Heritage. Although he now shares this honor with his late mentor Tokuda Yasokichi III and contemporary Yoshita Minori, he maintains a pragmatic and forward-looking view of tradition.
For Nakada, traditional techniques are a vital foundation for venturing in new directions. He believes craft must evolve with the world rather than clinging to forms that have lost their relevance.
True to this philosophy, his work is never a mere imitation of the past. Having spent 45 years refining his craft, Nakada continues to push the boundaries of yuri-ginsai, his eyes ever fixed on the undiscovered expressions waiting beyond the silver light.
Biography
Born in 1949 in Komatsu, Ishikawa Prefecture, Nakada Kazuo began his journey in ceramics in 1968 and mastered general pottery techniques while succeeding his family business. In 1978, he achieved his first selection for the 25th Japan Traditional Crafts Exhibition, later winning the Honorable Mention in 1982 and the Minister of Education Award in 1990.
Since then, he has led the craft world as the preeminent master of underglaze silver leaf. In 2011, he received the Medal with Purple Ribbon for his contributions to art and culture. His decades of original expression and technical mastery culminated in 2025 with his designation as a Holder of Important Intangible Cultural Heritage for yukasai.
