This is an Ibe (black) tea bowl by Kenji Takenaka, a popular Bizen artist. It is a tasteful work with a black clay body and yellow sesame glaze. Size: Diameter: approx. 11 cm, Height: approx. 9.5 cm. [Profile] 1957 Born in Okayama City 1986 Graduated from the Bizen Ceramic Art Center, Okayama Prefectural Industrial Experiment Station 1988 Studied under Jun Isezaki, an Okayama Prefectural Important Intangible Cultural Property Selected for the Issuikai Exhibition 1989 Selected for the Tabe Museum Tea Ceremony Sculpture Exhibition Selected for the Asahi Ceramic Art Exhibition Received the Encouragement Award at the Okayama Prefectural Art Exhibition Received the Sanyo Shimbun Award at the Japan Traditional Crafts China Branch Exhibition 1990 Received the Prefectural Art Exhibition Award at the Okayama Prefectural Art Exhibition Selected for the Japan Traditional Crafts China Branch Exhibition (selected five times thereafter) 1991 Selected for the Okayama Prefectural Art Exhibition (selected six times thereafter) Selected for the Yakishime Pottery Open Call Exhibition 1993 Built a semi-underground anagama kiln 1994 Became independent and held the first kiln firing 1995 Solo exhibition in Tokyo and other stores 1997 Solo exhibition at Okayama Kobo Ikuko (held once thereafter) Selected for the Japan Traditional Crafts Exhibition (selected once thereafter) 1998 Solo exhibition at Okayama Tenmaya 2000 Solo exhibition at Bizen-yaki Gallery Aoyama 2002 Solo exhibition at Bizen-yaki Gallery Aoyama 2005 Solo exhibition at Bizen-yaki Gallery Aoyama 2008 Solo exhibition at Bizen-yaki Gallery Aoyama