The Sodeisha group: An Era Born

The ceramic arts group known as Sodeisha (Crawling Through Mud Association) played a central role in Japan in the period following World War II. Formed in 1948 by five ceramic artists involved in the Kyoto scene – Yagi Kazuo, Kanoh Tetsuo, Yamada Hikaru, Matsui Yoshisuke, and Suzuki Osamu – at a time when the values of Japanese society had been shaken because of the country’s defeat, Sodeisha became a driving force over the next five decades, even as its membership endured successive changes. This publication examines the group’s history and activities in the period up to 1973 in detail, offering an opportunity to re-evaluate its purpose and meaning.