The Gosai Genroku Odori was created by Suwa Sozan I, a master ceramic artist active during the Meiji and Taishō periods. The term gosai refers to a decorative technique in which white porcelain is first fired at a high temperature, then painted with overglaze enamels, and fired once again. This method produces vivid colors and refined designs, representing one of the hallmarks of Japanese ceramic artistry.
The subject of the work, the “Genroku Odori,” is among the most celebrated pieces of nagauta, a style of shamisen music that developed alongside Kabuki in the Edo period. Set against the backdrop of cherry blossom viewing at Ueno during the Genroku era (1688–1704), it depicts a splendid and festive scene where people of all social classes—samurai, townspeople, and others—gather to dance in harmony. In this ceramic interpretation, the vibrancy and elegance of that world are vividly expressed.
Suwa Sozan I was born in Kanazawa, Kaga Province (present-day Kanazawa City, Ishikawa Prefecture). Originally from a family of former Kaga domain retainers, he became an Imperial Artist (Teishitsu Gigei’in) in 1917, recognized for his remarkable achievements in both research and creative endeavors in Japan and abroad. The Gosai Genroku Odori in our collection stands as a testament to his mastery of technique and his contribution to the development of modern Japanese ceramics.