Born in Kyoto, Shimizu trained at the Kyoto Ceramic Research Institute and later studied under the renowned potter Ishiguro Munemaro, before establishing his own studio and kiln in the city. In 1970 he left Kyoto and relocated to Shiga Prefecture, on the western shore of Lake Biwa, where he built his own climbing kiln at the foot of Mount Hōrai. This move marked an important turning point in his career and provided the environment in which many of his most mature works were produced.
Shimizu devoted his practice to exploring the depth and complexity of iron-rich glazes. Through subtle variations in firing temperature and atmosphere, he created vessels with richly textured surfaces and deep tonal variation, allowing glaze and form to interact closely in a complex dialogue between material, process and time. For Shimizu, glaze was not merely a decorative skin but a primary field of artistic inquiry and a form of expression.
Shimizu’s accomplishments included winning gold awards at the 1962 International Ceramic Exhibition in Prague and the 1977 Japan Ceramic Society awards. He showed his work at major exhibitions, including the Japan Traditional Crafts Exhibition. He was designated a Living National Treasure in 1985, in recognition of his achievements in iron-glazed ceramics. In 1987, he became president of the ceramics department at the Japan Arts Crafts Association and was named a Person of Cultural Merit by Kyoto Prefecture in 1988.
