Tokuda Masahiko (徳田 正彦) is born in Komatsu in 1933 and started pottery at 18 and learned from Yasokichi I and II. He was selected for the first time at the 11th Nitten in 1955 and at the 18th Japan Traditional Arts and Crafts Exhibition in 1971.He took the potter's name Yasokichi Third in 1988. Masahiko was designated a Ningen Kokuho 'Living National Treasure' for his mastery of his Saiyu glaze (glaze with graduation of colors) in 1997.
He is also an official member of the Japan Arts and Crafts Society
He made his 50 Years exhibition as a Potter in autumn 2000 at Mitsukoshi Department store in Tokyo.
Yasokichi ceramic have a complete different style and do not look at all like Kutani overglaze ceramic made up to day. He tried to produce Kutani without overglaze painting using different firing methods. He has developed a new Kutani style simple in the shape but full of shining colors that one may like or dislike, but no one will stay indifferent.
He had exhibitions in Boston in 1992 and in Paris in 1999. He is today one of the most famous kutani potters.
平成9年 重要無形文化財（人間国宝）の花瓶です。金沢美術大学卒。故初代 八十吉に師事し、九谷焼上絵釉薬を研究。先代（二代）に就き、現代陶芸を学ぶ。特に「青手古九谷」の持つ上絵釉薬の美しさを現代に生かす工夫を重ね今日に至る。
（とくだ やそきち）
陶芸
重要無形文化財保持者
平成９年(1997）認定
略歴
昭和８年９月14日−（1933−）
小松市生まれ、本名徳田正彦。金沢美術工芸短大中退後、初代八十吉に九谷焼の上絵釉薬、２代八十吉に、現代陶芸を学ぶ。昭和33年（1958）第１回一水会陶芸展初入選、52年（1977）日本伝統工芸展総裁賞、平成2年（1990）国際陶芸展グランプリ受賞、5年（1993）紫綬褒章受章。石川県陶芸協会会長、日本工芸会理事、一水会陶芸部運営委員。小松市在住。
『彩釉』技法で九谷焼に独自の世界
徳田八十吉は、初代八十吉から受け継いだ江戸期の古九谷系統の色を基に工夫を重ね、色釉いろゆうのグラデーションの微妙な変化やコントラストの美しさを特徴とする『彩釉』の技法で、独自の世界を築き上げました。
八十吉は、上絵うわえの焼成を従来の九谷焼より二百度以上も高い温度で行います。発色を考えて調合した色釉は、焼成の繰り返しや焼成時間の加減によって美しく変化し、気品と緊張感にあふれた作品が誕生します。
八十吉の持ち味は、『青手古九谷』の持つ上絵釉薬ゆうやくの美しさを、現代に生かした点にあり、九谷釉薬の新たな可能性の探究にも力を注いでいます。
Born in 1933 in Komatsu. Learned first from his grandfather Tokuda Yasokichi
the First. Studied Kutani Uwa-e picture glazes. Next learned contemporary pottery
and porcelain from his father Tokuda Yasokichi the Second. Since then he has
pursued new Kutani expressions and developed his own technique, such as this
vase and platter, which are coated with his own original glaze, developed from
his study of 'Aode Kokutani' (Green Old Kutani). He has always tried to add
novel beauty to his works and his unique skill at shading is highly acclaimed.
1958 he was accepted to enter the first Issuikai Pottery & Porcelain Exhibition.
In 1963 he was accepted for the first Asahi Pottery & Porcelain Exhibition
and for the 6th Japan Exhibition. He repeatedly accepted for the Japan Exhibition
until the 11th Japan Exhibition. In 1971 he was awarded the NHK Chairman's Award
for the 18th Japan Traditional Arts & Crafts Exhibition, followed in 1977
by the Japan Traditional Arts & Crafts Society Chairman Award for the 24th
Japan Traditional Arts & Crafts Exhibition. 1986 he was awarded at the 33rd
Japan Traditional Arts & Crafts Exhibition, and in 1997 he was designated
as a Living National Treasure for his work with polychrome glaze porcelains.