With smooth, organic forms that undulate like flower petals, the lacquerware of KAMATA Katsuji (鎌田 克慈) exudes a profound presence. The deep, lustrous finish of the lacquer conveys a sense of depth, while the gentle, flowing shapes evoke a natural elegance. KAMATA’s creations stand out...
Written by TOMIKAWA Kyōko ”Leaf Boat (spring)/一葉舟（春）”(H5.5×W28.0×D8.5cm, 2018, private collection)In green glass reminiscent of fresh spring leaves, geometric lines of gold and platinum are applied using the ‘kirikane’ technique, with tiny hexagrams embedded within.As a child, YAMAMOTO loved to float leaf boats in rain-fed...
Categories artisans / Visual Art
Hasagi trees, which are planted to hang harvested rice on to dry, are now only seen in protected areas. SASAGAWA Shunsō loves hasagi and frequently depicts this motif.Haruka-naru furusato (遥かなるふるさと) (2011) Located almost exactly in the centre of Honshu, Japan’s main island, Niigata Prefecture...
Written by TOMIKAWA Kyōko Kyūsui (吸水: Water Absorption) is an artwork that can truly be called chōzetsu-gikō (超絶技巧: transcendent craftsmanship).I encountered this piece for the first time at the Mitsui Memorial Museum’s exhibition “Taking Transcendent Craftsmanship into the Future! With the DNA of Marvellous...
The “Wazao” is a traditional Japanese fishing rod made of natural materials. Crafted by master artisan YAMANO Masayuki (山野 正幸), its origins are in the “Kawaguchi Wazao”, which emerged over 200 years ago in the vicinity of Kawaguchi City, Saitama Prefecture. Attracting anglers from...
Written by TOMIKAWA Kyōko Designated as an Important Intangible Cultural Property of Japan in 1957, Kurume Kasuri (久留米絣), a cotton fabric representative of Kyushu, is believed to have emerged in around 1800. One of the country’s three major Kasuri, it features images and characters...
Categories artisans / Ceramics
Oribe-ware and Shigaraki-ware (Sake vessels). (photo by TOBETOBEKUSA) Shigaraki Town, Kōka City is located in the southern part of Shiga Prefecture, a neighbouring prefecture of Kyoto. Driving along a narrow road barely wide enough for a single small car to pass, we arrive...
Written by TOMIKAWA Kyōko Kirikane (截金).This technique was brought to Japan around the 6th century with the spread of Buddhism. The method, known at the time as “kashoku-shōgon (加飾荘厳)”, was developed to present the world of Buddha. It involves decorating the robes, lotus...
The historic Kokuryu Brewery (黒龍酒造), established in 1804, is located close to Kuzuryū River, a clear stream fed by melted snow from the sacred Hakusan mountain range in Fukui Prefecture. The climate in this area, by the Sea of Japan, is characterized by...
Airy leaves, bold plaid patterns and delicate lace-like waves – the unique and elegant tie-dye patterns of Arimatsu-Narumi Shibori are crafted by skilled artisans in Arimatsu (Nagoya). MURASE Hiroyuki (村瀬 弘行), a fifth-generation successor of the craft, founded ‘Suzusan’ to deliver inspired shibori fabrics to...
Categories artisans / Ceramics
MICHIKAWA Shozo (道川 省三) was a latecomer to the world of ceramics and did not come from a traditional background. However, this allowed him to be free of existing rules and boundaries that often hold back ideas from outside-the-box artists in Japan. Having developed...
Categories artisans / Visual Art
秋華 (four-panel folding screen, 2000) MORITA Rieko (森田りえ子) has won numerous awards and held countless solo exhibitions in Japan and overseas. While many of her works are kept in several of Kyoto’s famous temples and shrines, such as Kinkaku-ji (Golden Temple), Jonan-gu, Todai-ji Ema,...
Categories artisans / Ceramics
Born in 1945, as one of three sons of a renowned ceramic artist family in Kanazawa, it took NAKAMURA Takuo (中村 卓夫) some time to follow in his father’s footsteps. Only after discovering his own creative ideas did he enter the professional ceramic artist world....
Starfish 1 SASAI Fumie (笹井 史恵) is highly admired both in Japan and internationally for her innovative and unique style of Urushi (Japanese lacquerware). She is also an associate professor at Kyoto City University of Arts, where she teaches Urushi art applied to new...
work of Somenotsukasa Yoshioka The all-natural textile dyeing studio Somenotsukasa Yoshioka (染司よしおか) is now run by YOSHIOKA Sarasa (吉岡 更紗) who recently took over from her father, YOSHIOKA Sachio (5th generation). With a history of over 200 years, samples of Somenotsukasa Yoshioka’s colourful creations...
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