Furutani Kazuya (b. 1976) was born into the renowned ceramic family of Shigaraki potter Furutani Michio. After graduating from Yamaguchi College of Art in 1997, he continued his studies at the Kyoto Prefectural Ceramists’ Technical Institute before returning to work with his father. Following his father’s sudden passing in 2000, Kazuya took the lead in continuing the family legacy and has become a prominent figure among a new generation of Shigaraki potters.
He has built multiple anagama wood‑fired kilns and developed a distinctive body of work characterized by powerful fire color, natural ash glazes, and richly varied surfaces. His pieces include tea bowls, vases, jars, and blended clay forms that reflect both the raw energy of wood firing and a deep dialogue with historical Shigaraki aesthetics.
Kazuya has been selected for numerous traditional craft exhibitions and has held solo shows at venues such as Tobu Department Store (Ikebukuro), Gallery Dojima (Osaka), and Ginza Kuroda Toen (Tokyo). Drawing on the long Shigaraki tradition and his father’s influence, his ceramics balance fiery spontaneity with refined form, earning him recognition as one of the most promising contemporary ceramic artists working in wood‑fired kiln traditions today.
