Crane-necked vase with engraved chrysanthemum shape

In 1995, Inoue Manji was recognized in Japan as a Living National Treasure for his work in white porcelain. Inoue was born and raised in Arita, a city famous for its colorful pottery. At the age of 30, he was a technical researcher in the district kiln-testing facility, which helped him gain an appreciation for the difficulty of working with porcelain. Inoue went on to become a ceramics artist and has built his reputation on his unembellished white wares, each one finished with a flawless transparent glaze.