河井寛次郎 (1890 - 1966) - Kanjiro Kawai (1890 - 1966)

In the year 1890, Kanjiro Kawai was born in Yasugi, Shimane Prefecture. His main goal in life was to become a great potter, and he succeeded!

河井寛次郎は1890年、島根県安来市に生まれました。彼は偉大な陶芸家になることを生涯の目標とし、それを実現した人物です。

He started his career by studying the ancient glazing and pottery techniques of the Chinese artists. Later on, in his middle years, he became a part of the Folk Art Movement, which was sponsored by Muneyoshi Yanagi.During that period, he produced many works which were closely related to the daily lives of the people.

寛次郎の陶芸家としての経歴は、古代中国の陶芸家の釉薬と陶芸の技術を学んだことに始まります。人生の半ばには、柳宗悦の率いた民芸運動に参加し、この時期人々の日常に密着した作品を数多く生み出しています。

In his later years, he formed his own idea of the art of pottery. In the process, he became known as, “The Poet of Fire,” and created some of his greatest works. His style is still prominent and powerful. He conducted more than 10,000 experiments with glazes, just to get the feeling that he desired!

晩年の寛次郎は、陶芸に対して独自の考え方を形成するに至ります。この中で「炎の詩人」として知られるようになり、最高傑作のいくつかを発表しています。現在でも彼の作風は、卓越さと力強さを備えています。寛次郎は、ただ思うような感じを出すために、10000回を超える釉薬の実験を行いました。

He was a very dedicated artist. Kanjiro’s work seems to have a life of its own, gained from the strong heart of the artist himself.

彼はとても献身的な芸術家だったのです。寛次郎の作品には、芸術家自身の強い心から生まれた生命が宿っているかのようです。

His efforts made a great impression on the ceramic artists of Japan, and he should be remembered for his desire to create something with meaning, feeling and usefulness.

寛次郎の残した業績は、ほかの多くの日本の陶芸家たちに強い影響を与えました。彼が、意味と感性と有用性を備えたものを作ろうとしたことを、私たちは忘れてはならないと思います。

Each piece of his art is individual, showing us some part of the artist’s nature. Kanjiro’s aim in life was determined at a youthful age, and he studied hard, worked hard, and tried hard, to become a success in his chosen field of ceramics.

寛次郎の作品はそれぞれ個性的であり、芸術家河井寛次郎の一面を見ることができます。 河井寛次郎は、若いうちから人生の目標を定め、懸命に学び、働き、厳しい努力を経て、自らが選んだ陶芸の分野で成功を収めました。

That he was successful shows us that if we all try to find a goal in life, and really work hard at it, we also might succeed! The secret of that project is doing your best, with all your spirit, and not half-heartedly. The half-hearted worker will certainly fail!

このことは、私たちも人生の目標を定め懸命に努力すれば成功できることを示唆しています。その秘訣は、中途半端な気持ちでなく、全身全霊を打ち込むことです。中途半端な気持ちで仕事をすれば、きっと失敗してしまいます。