Shinbei Sakaura is the current and 15th generation head of the Sakakura family line of Hagi ceramic artists. His family history can be traced back to Korea and the movement of the Li family to Japan under the orders of Terumoto, leader of the West Army in what is now modern day Yamaguchi prefecture. Today Shinbei Sakakura has the weighty responsibility of preserving and moving forward the 15th iteration of his family's important ceramic tradition and his son, Masahiro Sakakura, will be the lead and 16th generation Shinbei upon his father's retirement.
His great grandfather, the 12th generation Shinbei is credited as having restored Hagi ceramics to become the nationwide teaser that it is today and was designated as a holder of intangible cultural properties in 1956. His grandfather, the 14th Shinbei, was also granted the same honour but sadly died aged only 58 when his father took over the 15th iteration of the title and responsibility. Masahiro san brings with him experience of undergraduate and postgraduate studies at prestigious arts universities but also manages to retain the humility and honesty of 'old Hagi' in his work.
Sakakura Family Line
I Li Shakkō
II Yamamura, Shinbei Mitsumasa
III Yamamura, Heishiro Mitsutoshi
IV Yamamura, Yahei Mitsunobu
V Yamamura, Genjiro Mitsunaga
VI Sakakura, Tozaemon (changed surname to Sakakura)
VII Sakakura Goroemon
VIII Sakakura Hanbei
IX Sakakura Heisuke
X Sakakura Kuroemon
XI Sakakura Shinbei Takichi
XII Sakakura Shinbei
XIII Sakakura Shinbei Kotaro
XIV Sakakura Shinbei Soji
XV Sakakura Shinbei
Sakaura Masahiro (The future Sakakura Shinbei XVI)
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