Wada Morihiro (1947–2007) was born in Hyōgo Prefecture and emerged as one of the most highly regarded ceramic artists of his generation. He apprenticed in Kyoto under Tomimoto Kenkichi, a pivotal figure in modern Japanese ceramics and a designated Living National Treasure, an experience that grounded Wada in rigorous technique while exposing him to a modernist approach to form and surface. In 1976 he established his own studio, settling in the area that would remain his base of production for the rest of his career.
Wada’s work was regularly selected for Japan’s most prestigious exhibitions, including the Nihon Tōgei-ten (National Ceramics Exhibition) and the Nihon Dentō Kōgei-ten (National Traditional Crafts Exhibition), reflecting his ability to bridge tradition and contemporary expression. International recognition followed early: in 1980 he was awarded the Gold Medal at the Florence International Ceramics Exhibition, marking him as a significant voice in global ceramics.
In 1983, Wada was presented as a representative of modern Japanese ceramics in exhibitions at both the Victoria and Albert Museum in London and the Smithsonian Institution in the United States, firmly establishing his international reputation. His achievements were further acknowledged in 1985 when he received the Japan Ceramic Society Award, an exceptionally rare honor that placed him among the leading figures in postwar Japanese ceramic art.
