Jigoemon Ohara XVI

• 1979
  Born in Nanto City, Toyama Prefecture
• 1997
  Graduated from Toyama Prefectural Takaoka Kogei High School, Craft Department
• 2000
  Graduated from Wajima Urushi Art Technical Training Center, Makie Department
• 2003
  Selected for the 50th Japan Traditional Kōgei Exhibition for the first time (selected 14 times from this year onward)
• 2011
  Certified as Craftsperson for Building and Repairing Festival Floats by the Yama / Hoko /Yatai (Float Festivals) Preservation Association
• 2015
  The Best of Toyama: Kōgei Art and Design from Japan (Onishi Gallery, New York, USA)
  Baccarat Hotel & Residences New York (New York, USA)
• 2016
  Spoke at the TED x Himi event in Himi
  Asia Week New York 2016 (Dalva Brothers, New York, USA)
  Kōgei: Contemporary Japanese Art as part of National Cherry Blossom Festival (Embassy of Japan in the United States of America, Washington D.C., USA)
  Speaker at the "Study Sapuri Live" held by Recruit Marketing Partners at the Shinagawa Prince Hotel, Tokyo
  September Asia Week New York 2016 (Onishi Gallery, New York, USA)
  Japanese Contemporary Art & Living (Onishi Gallery, New York, USA)
• 2017
  "Johana Makie - inheritance of 442 years of tradition" at Hong Kong Art School・PMQ (WADO PROJECT・Consulate-General of Japan in Hong Kong)
  Asia Society Global Education Series Jōhana Maki-e: the artistry of Jōhana Lacquering Evening Presentation by Ohara Yoshitomo, the 16th Successor of Jigoemon (Asia Society Hong Kong Center)
• 2019
  Succeeded to the name Jigoemon Ohara XVI
  IAF 2019 (Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre)
  “Inheritance - The Intangible Cultural Heritage of Japan” Exhibition (Hong Kong City Hall)
• 2021
  "Metamorphosis and Evolution" Exhibition (Ginza emmy art, Tokyo)
• 2022
  Exhibition in Commemoration of the Succession of Jigoemon Ohara XVI (emmy art +, Ginza, Tokyo)
• 2023
  Established the Jigoemon Ohara Jōhana Arts and Culture Organization
  Assumed the post of Representative Director
  
  Invited to submit to the Toyama City Sato Memorial Art Museum Special Exhibition "Creation – Bringing Things to Life"

OHARA Jigoemon XVI (b. 1979)

The art of Jōhana Makie has been passed down from father to son for sixteen generations since 1575, and the name “Jigoemon Ohara” has been inherited since the Azuchi-Momoyama period up to this very day. I am not only a craftsman of fine artifacts including tea ceremony utensils and artwork honored by imperial inspection in Japan, but also actively engaged in exhibitions, and preservation of cultural heritage such as Hikiyama floats both domestically and overseas. I have given talks and presentations in Japan, the US, Hong Kong, as well as at TEDxHimi. I succeeded the name “OHARA Jigoemon XVI” in 2019.

Techniques Passed Down for Generations from Father to Son

Jōhana Makie has been passed down for generations from father to son since the late 16th century. Unlike the typical "makie" where gold powder is sprinkled on lacquer, the family's secret technique, white makie is used and patterns are painted in bright multi-colored lacquer. Jigoemon Ohara XVI succeeds these traditional techniques of Jōhana Makie. He received the New Artist Award at the 71st Japan Traditional Kōgei Exhibition where the top artists in Japan gather. He preserves and restores cultural properties while actively taking part in exhibitions and holding lectures in Japan and overseas, and is making efforts to pass down, develop and expand Japanese lacquer art.

• 2002
  Received the Incentive Award at the 41st Toyama Traditional Kōgei Exhibition
• 2013
  Received the Kitanippon Shimbun Award at the Art Exhibition of Tonamino 2013, craft division
• 2017
  Received the Japan Kōgei Association Toyama Branch Award at the 56th Toyama Traditional Kōgei Exhibition
• 2024
  Received the Toyama Governor Award at the 63rd Toyama Traditional Kōgei Exhibition
  Received the Japan Kōgei Association New Artist Award at the 71st Japan Traditional Kōgei Exhibition

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