Goto Saijiro Tadakyo 1623-1704
Goto Saijiro family has been then in the center of the development of the old
Kutani. Their exact involvement is little uncertain. However we believe that
in order to learn this new technic developped in Arita Sadatsugu decided in
1656 to dispatch his son Tadakiyo to Hizen Imari to learn the new technic of
enamel overglaze which had been imported from China.
There is several stories around his life, however they all have a commun point,
it was very difficult to have access to the know-how developed by the Arita
potters, and they were keeping with great efforts their secret. Someone said
that in order to get the secret of enamel overglaze which was very well protected
by the potters of Arita, he married the daughter of his teacher and run away
10 years later after having accomplished his duty. Some other story said that
he went to Arita with some of his colleagues disguised as monks and were able
to get the precious secret.
It is also said simply that he could not easily succeed in learning this technic
and brought back with him several Chinese potters who established the base of
Ko-Kutani.
Back from Hizen he built a new kiln close to Kutani village near Yamanaka Onsen
and started with Tamura Gonzauemon the production of Kutani wares. He developped
the Kutani yaki style and promoted the art of glazes of deep green, dark blue,
light purple, red and yellow colors which are well known among Kutani yaki lovers
as the 5 Kutani colors. It is at that period that Kutani style really was established
and Goto Saijiro is considered as a pionneer.
In his old age he moved back to Kanazawa city where he died in march 1704 at
the age of 71 years. At that time he was called Geni. As he had no children
and no pupil, nobody was able to succeed him.
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