Hamada Shoji (1894-1978) A set of six green-splashed dishes, Japan, Showa period 「人間國寶」濱田庄司（1894 - 1978年） 昭和時期 白地灑青釉盤一組六件

Hamada Shoji was the first Japanese craftsman to be bestowed with the title as a ‘Living National Treasure’. He was a key figure of the mingei (folk-art) movement. Hamada started his professional pottery-making journey in 1913, when he studied ceramics at Tokyo Institute of Technology (later known as Tokyo Industrial College) under Itaya Hazan, a pioneer of modern Japanese ceramics. In 1924, he set up his studio in Mashiko and began to produce Mashiki ware using only locally sourced materials and tools. Hamada dedicated his life in promoting traditional Japanese crafts through pottery making, and transformed Mashiko – a historic pottery town since late Edo period – into a flourishing centre of Japanese folk crafts. He was awarded the Medals of Honour (Japan), Purple Ribbon in 1964, and the Order of Culture in 1968. Hamada achieved recognition internationally, his works are among the collections of the British Museum and the Victoria and Albert Museum in London, and the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York.

濱田庄司是日本首位在工藝技術範疇被認定為「人間國寶」的藝術家。他是民藝運動的主要人物。1913年，濱田庄司入學東京高等工業學校（現東京工業大學）窰業科，師從日本現代陶藝大叔板谷波山。1924年濱田搬至益子市，並開始使用本地材料和工具燒製被稱為益子燒的陶器。濱田一生致力於推廣日本傳統工藝，並將益子市這座自江戶時期後期便有製陶傳統的小城變成了日本民藝運動的中心。他在1964年和1968年分別被授予了紫綬褒章和文化勋章。濱田庄司的地位在國際上也獲得了認可。倫敦大英博物館以及維多利亞和阿爾伯特博物館，以及紐約大都會美術館都藏有濱田庄司的作品。