Born in Kanda, Edo (Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo) in 1837, Shioda Makoto was a distinguished figure in the ceramic industry during the Meiji Era (1868-1912). After returning to Japan, he collaborated with Notomi, Kawahara, and others to teach the new techniques he had learned at the former site of the Exposition office in Yamashitomon, Tokyo, and achieved good results, but the Satsuma Rebellion forced him to suspend his business. At this time, he joined forces with Notomi to establish the Edogawa Pottery with Kawahara, Kato Yutaro, and others, and became its director, researching many new pottery techniques and working to educate the public. However, since the business was originally a public enterprise with no regard for profit, it became increasingly difficult to manage, and in 1884 (7th year of the same year) it was finally forced to close. During this period, he was again sent to the World’s Fair in Philadelphia in 1876 (9th year of the same year), along with Natomi and others. He also assisted Wagner’s research on “Asahi ware” and cloisonne enamel ware, and was very active in teaching Miyagawa Kozan.
During this period, the Japanese ceramics industry was in its formative years, and there were many improvements and innovations not only in technology but also in management, unions, patent systems, and other aspects of the industry. Later, he taught at the Tokyo Art School (present-day Tokyo National University of Fine Arts and Music) and was also invited to Aichi Prefecture to teach design and cloisonne enamel art. He died on February 12, 1917 at the age of 81. He was buried at Chosenji Temple in Kikusaka, Hongo, Bunkyo Ward. He was the editor and author of “History of Pottery in Prefectural Ceramics: A History of the Potters’ Tradition” and “History of Japanese Pottery” (Franks, “JapanesePottery”).
