(b ?Kyoto, c. 1795; d Otso, Totomi Prov. [now Shiga Prefect.], 1854). Japanese ceramicist and member of the Eiraku family. At the age of 13 he was adopted by Nishimura Ryozen, the tenth-generation head of a family of doburo (earthenware braziers) makers for the tea ceremony. In 1827 he was invited to Kii Province (now Wakayama Prefect.) to produce porcelain for the local daimyo, from whom he received the right to use a silver seal bearing the name Eiraku. He obtained national recognition for his sometsuke (blue-and-white) and kinrande (gold and enamel) wares (see JAPAN, §VIII, 3(iii)). Hozen was skilled in the manufacture of many types of ceramic ware, including stonewares and copies of Chinese Ming-period (1368–1644) wares, and his coloured glazes (violet, yellow, red, blue and green) were a major influence on later Kyoto ceramics (kyoyaki). He also devoted much effort to mastering the use of underglaze copper red (shinsha). After passing the family headship to his son, Wazen, in 1849, Hozen travelled to Edo (now Tokyo), where he planned to open a kiln. The venture failed, but soon after his return to Kyoto he was invited by a patron to build a kiln in Miidera (Otsu, Totomi Prov.; now Shiga Prefect.). Hozen spent his last years working there, producing what came to be known as Konan ware, and later, at another kiln, Nagarayama ware. He was succeeded by his son, Wazen (1823–96), and his adopted son, Sosaburo (Dozen).

• Eiraku Hozen
  • Japan, §VIII, 3(i)(e): Glazed ceramics: 18th century–1868
  • Japan, §VIII, 3(ii)(b): Unglazed ceramics, c 1500–1868
  • Japan, §XVI, 17(i)(c): Netsuke: Types and makers
  • Kyoto, §III, 2: Centre of ceramics production, late 17th century–1868