A Life Poised Between Worlds Lee Bang-ja, a name resonating with the delicate balance of cultural and political tides, was born Princess Masako of Nashimoto in Tokyo in 1901. Her life unfolded as an extraordinary tapestry woven with threads of Japanese royalty, Korean history, and a profound dedication to the art of porcelain. To understand Lee Bang-ja is to glimpse a pivotal moment in East Asian history—a period marked by shifting empires, complex allegiances, and the enduring power of artistic expression. From her privileged upbringing within the Japanese Imperial Family, she received an e…