Tomoyama (hōzan): A Synthesis of Venetian Grandeur and Buddhist Spirit Tomoyama, also known as hōzan, is a Japanese ceramic artist born in Shigaraki in 1936 who has cemented his place within the canon of modern Japanese art. His distinctive style—characterized by meticulous craftsmanship and an unmistakable resonance with the opulent aesthetic of the Venetian Renaissance palazzo—has garnered considerable acclaim and scholarly attention, notably culminating in John M. Rosenfield’s influential book, ‘Preserving the Dharma: Hōzan Tankai and Japanese Buddhist Art of the Early Modern Era.’ This p…