SUZUKI OSAMU *(KURA)  born in 1934 from a pottery family he visited and studied in his youth many of the local ancient kilns and wares  in the Mino area dating back to the Momoyama 16th century era. There on deciding to develop Shino ware in his own way and style by many years of experimentation conducted in a scientific manner using a gas-fired kiln to provide a more modern and dynamic version of Mino wares without imitating the earlier wares. 

He is the recipient of many prizes and awards culminating in the award of Living National Treasure status in 1994 for his contribution to Shino wares and thereby following in the footsteps of Arakawa Toyozo (1894-1985) the master of the Shino renaissance. 

Suzuki considers Shino the most appropriate ware for the expression of Japanese aesthetics and sensibility particularly when accommodated in the tea ceremony an occasion where he directs his ceramics toward.

• not to be confused with the earlier Sodeisha artist by the same name.