Yano Keisen | 1870 - 1965 The world of Yano Kakegawa ( Artist chosen 1959 by Empress Michiko at his Marriage  

31.05.2021
Masterpiece Shino ware Master craftsman Yano Kagekawazo 88 years old Shino tea bowl co-box antique art (formerly owned by the family) DC5966 size	Approximately 13 x 12 x 10 cm Weight 590 g
Masterpiece Shino ware Master craftsman Yano Kagekawazo 88 years old Shino tea bowl co-box antique art (formerly owned by the family) DC5966 size Approximately 13 x 12 x 10 cm Weight 590 g

Primitive Shino tea bowl by an important Shino master, Yano Keisen (1870-1965), famous forto be chosen by Empress Michiko and having a collaboration  with the calligraphy of Toyama Mitsuru (1855-1944),

The world of Yano Kakegawa,once upon when   Empress Michiko chose Yano at his Marriage., which is also called Keisen.the Empress consort of Japan as the wife of Akihito, the 125th Emperor of Japan
The world of Yano Kakegawa,once upon when Empress Michiko chose Yano at his Marriage., which is also called Keisen.the Empress consort of Japan as the wife of Akihito, the 125th Emperor of Japan

Yano was a Japanese Asian Modern & Contemporary artist who was born in 1870. Yano received late the Keisen name with a letter by Sen at Eihei-ji (永平寺) is one of two main temples of the Sōtō school of Zen Buddhism, the largest single religious denomination in Japan  than. Yano he died in 1965. Born in Kozoji-cho, Kasugai City in 1897 he started to studyunder Shiun Masuda of Nagoya Shiramizu Rei Juku and Hisatada Kobori of Seishin Juku.He was 22 years old and he was adopted by the Yano family in Seto City. While he was serving at the Hatayama Village Office he wanted so much enter in the pottery life and started making handmade Shino bowls, which he calls simple. In 1952, he made a bowl of Kiju, and the chief of Eiheiji Temple given a letter to him, and from that moment he received the name of Keisen.

In 1959, the Crown Prince and Princess Michiko  Emperor and Empress who now passed the legacy to Naruhito ) presented their own Shino ware bowl made by Yano Keisen to the marriage.


He passed away on June 9, 1965 at the age of 94. 

Proof inscription from Omotesenke   Hisada priest 12th gen  Hisada Soya (Muneya Nakasei), Proof of the simplicity of an artist, here Priest just write: " shino chawan" adding his real born name, as a friend can do. 志野 茶碗  半床宗也
Proof inscription from Omotesenke Hisada priest 12th gen Hisada Soya (Muneya Nakasei), Proof of the simplicity of an artist, here Priest just write: " shino chawan" adding his real born name, as a friend can do. 志野 茶碗 半床宗也

The life of Empress Michiko

By Moniek Bloks 17th April 2019 

Michiko Shōda  正田 美智子 20.X.1934 – Empress of Japan Kōgō Michiko 皇后美智子  Michiko Shōda is the wife and consort of Emperor Akihito, the current monarch of Japan. She was the first commoner to marry into the Japanese Imperial Family. As crown princess and later as empress consort, she has become the most visible and widely-travelled imperial consort in Japanese history. Her full title is Her Imperial Majesty The Empress of Japan.
Michiko Shōda 正田 美智子 20.X.1934 – Empress of Japan Kōgō Michiko 皇后美智子 Michiko Shōda is the wife and consort of Emperor Akihito, the current monarch of Japan. She was the first commoner to marry into the Japanese Imperial Family. As crown princess and later as empress consort, she has become the most visible and widely-travelled imperial consort in Japanese history. Her full title is Her Imperial Majesty The Empress of Japan.

Installed at the heart of Japanese society when the country was in a state of collapse after World War II, and then launched on a frantic course to achieve modernity, over a period of 60 years, Michiko followed an unexpected path: that of encouraging the Japanese people to indulge in greater introspection in order to build a united, peaceful and enlightened Japan. 

Michiko Shōda - the future Empress of Japan - was born on 20 October 1934 at the University of Tokyo Hospital. She was the daughter of Hidesaburō Shōda and Fumiko Soejima and was the second of four children. She received a solid education, a combination of traditional and Western, and learned to speak English. She attended the Futaba Elementary School in Tokyo but was forced to leave because of bombings during the Second World War. She returned to Tokyo after the war and then attended the Sacred Heart School, from which she graduated in 1953.

She continued her studies at the University of the Sacred Heart in Tokyo and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in English Literature. She met her future husband, the then Crown Prince Akihito, on a tennis court in August 1957. Their engagement was officially announced on 27 November 1958 with the engagement ceremony taking place on 14 January 1959. Michiko was considered to be a commoner, and it was rumoured that her future mother-in-law, the Empress Kōjun, who was a born Princess, opposed to the match. When her mother-in-law died in 2000, it became clear that she had indeed opposed the marriage and that her disapproval had caused Michiko to become depressed. Nevertheless, the couple had widespread public support. On 10 April 1959, she became Her Imperial Highness The Crown Princess, and the newlyweds moved to Tōgū Palace.


Akihito and Michiko at their wedding on 10 April 1959. By 宮内庁/Public Domain Michiko gave birth to three children: Naruhito, Crown Prince of Japan (born 1960), Fumihito, Prince Akishino (born 1965) and Sayako, Princess Nori (known as Sayako Kuroda since her marriage) (born 1969). In 1963, Michiko had an abortion because of her impaired health. She and her husband visited 37 foreign countries as Crown Prince and Crown Princess of Japan.  Like her daughter-in-law Masako, Michiko suffered from nervous breakdowns and depression due to pressures from the media, and her mother-in-law. Most notably, she lost her voice for seven months in the 1960s and once more in 1993. She also suffered from mouth ulcers, nosebleeds and intestinal bleeding due to psychological stress.
Akihito and Michiko at their wedding on 10 April 1959. By 宮内庁/Public Domain Michiko gave birth to three children: Naruhito, Crown Prince of Japan (born 1960), Fumihito, Prince Akishino (born 1965) and Sayako, Princess Nori (known as Sayako Kuroda since her marriage) (born 1969). In 1963, Michiko had an abortion because of her impaired health. She and her husband visited 37 foreign countries as Crown Prince and Crown Princess of Japan. Like her daughter-in-law Masako, Michiko suffered from nervous breakdowns and depression due to pressures from the media, and her mother-in-law. Most notably, she lost her voice for seven months in the 1960s and once more in 1993. She also suffered from mouth ulcers, nosebleeds and intestinal bleeding due to psychological stress.
The Empress in the outfit worn to the jūnihitoe at the Ceremony of the Enthronement on November 1990. By Website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan, CC-BY 4.0 On 7 January 1989, Michiko’s father-in-law died, making her husband the new Emperor. Michiko and Akihito were enthroned on 12 November 1990. She continued to accompany her husband at events and visits to other countries and the 47 prefectures of Japan.  Michiko is known to enjoy reading, music and playing the piano. She even forms a small band with her family. Emperor Akihito plays the cello, and Crown Prince Naruhito plays the violin. She translated several of Michio Mado’s poems into English and also composes her own poems, including waka. Several of these poems are also published, and the family regular publishes New Years’ poems.
The Empress in the outfit worn to the jūnihitoe at the Ceremony of the Enthronement on November 1990. By Website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan, CC-BY 4.0 On 7 January 1989, Michiko’s father-in-law died, making her husband the new Emperor. Michiko and Akihito were enthroned on 12 November 1990. She continued to accompany her husband at events and visits to other countries and the 47 prefectures of Japan. Michiko is known to enjoy reading, music and playing the piano. She even forms a small band with her family. Emperor Akihito plays the cello, and Crown Prince Naruhito plays the violin. She translated several of Michio Mado’s poems into English and also composes her own poems, including waka. Several of these poems are also published, and the family regular publishes New Years’ poems.
Miss Michiko Shoda in Europe before her engagement.
Miss Michiko Shoda in Europe before her engagement.

Empress Michiko comes from a wealthy family industrialist family. Her father was the president and later honorary chairman of his company. She met Emperor Akihito on a tennis court in 1957. They got engaged in 1958. Although, she came from a wealthy family, she was nonetheless a commoner. Some traditionalists did oppose the match as Michiko wasn't part of the nobility. But, after the engagement the couple proved to be popular with the people. Empress Michiko is the first commoner to ever marry in to the Japanese Imperial Family.
Empress Michiko is also a very smart woman. She was the valedictorian of her graduating class and has co-authored several poetry collections.
Interesting fact: After Michiko married Emperor Akihito (Prince, at the time), lots of new born baby girls were named after her.

Akihito and Michiko: a modern fairy tale

The imperial couple met during a tennis match in the summer of 1957 at a resort in Karuizawa, a popular tourist destination in Nagano prefecture. Michiko was the eldest daughter of Hidesaburo Shoda, president of Nisshin Seifun, a major Japanese food company. A year and a half after their meeting, Kunaicho announced the engagement of the heir to the throne Akihito. The fact that she was not an aristocrat, but the first woman without blue blood to be engaged to an heir to the throne, led the Japanese to love her right away so much that, according to the Kyodo news agency, in that period even the sales of televisions among the population, because everyone wanted to see the future imperial couple fulfill the dream of love, which came true with the wedding on April 10, 1959.

Despite the strict rules of etiquette and the suffering repeatedly expressed by Michiko, the empress has always respected her role and her commitments. And it is also for this reason that the wife of the current heir to the throne Naruhito, the sad princess Masako Owada, perhaps the next empress, is not frowned upon by Kunaicho. Today 53 years old, Masako is the daughter of diplomats and she herself had a good career in the field of international relations but she had to give up everything in 1993, when she married the heir to the throne Naruhito. Ten years later, when the first child Aiko was only two years old, Masako disappeared from public life. For years she has been suffering from severe depression, which the Japanese media attribute to the fact that she was unable to give her husband - and her people - a son. As a good husband Naruhito has always defended her, speaking of his wife's inability to adapt to imperial life, but this does not prevent the Japanese tabloids from publishing (even today) articles against Masako of her, accusing her of not playing their role. .

Just read the interview a few years ago by Japanese writer Nanami Shiono (friend of Empress Michiko) who said of her: "Masako was the hope of Japanese women. Today, with the refusal to fulfill the public duties and the tastes of her by enriching her, she is our shame ". And she then adds: "After the earthquake, rushing to comfort those poor people would have been an opportunity to recover. Instead she doesn't go. Like her, she doesn't go out to greet those Japanese who come from all over the country to clean the imperial palace for free. Thus she destroys the image of the crown prince. The people have separated from her ".

The writer Nanami Shiono

Instead, the images of Akihito and Michiko, after the earthquake and tsunami of 11 March 2011, are imprinted in the hearts of the Japanese. After the tragedy, the emperor, together with his wife, went to visit centers for displaced persons, breaking all rules of etiquette. As if to say: it is not the time of rules, it is the time of compassion, of mercy. This attitude has brought the imperial couple even closer to the people, so much so that over eighty percent of the citizens support the emperor's decision to withdraw.