Yasumasa Komiya

About the Artist

Timeless kimonos loved for many generations

Yasumasa Komiya received the MEXT Award in 1983 and the Praemium Imperiale Award in 2006 at the Japan Traditional Kōgei Exhibition where the top level artworks in Japan gather. He was designated as Living National Treasure for Edo Komon in 2018. The Komiya family has been designated as Living National Treasure for three generations from Yasumasa's grandfather. While inheriting the traditional techniques of Edo Komon, he has made improvements to meet the needs of the times in his creations. Komiya says, "My aim is to create clear and bright colors that do not lose their brilliance for ages." The kimonos dyed by Komiya are handed down from parent to child and are cherished for many years.

Style

The techniques for Edo Komon developed during the Edo period in order to dye hakama (skirtlike trousers) for the samurai and kimonos for the townspeople.
The word "Edo Komon" did not exist from the beginning. It was named "Edo Komon" when my grandfather Kosuke Komiya was designated as Important Intangible Cultural Property to differentiate it from other types of komon.
I aim to dye Edo Komon, dyed in a single color, in a color with translucency like a gem; a clear and bright color that doesn't lose its brilliance for many years.
While succeeding the techniques from the Edo period, I have made improvements in my textiles to make Edo Komon match our modern lifestyle.

Biography

• 1956
  Born in Katsushika Ward, Tokyo, as the eldest son of KOMIYA Yasutaka
• 1972
  Started studying under his father
• 1980
  Selected for the 27th Japan Traditional Art Crafts Exhibition for the first time
• 1988
  His work was purchased by the Agency for Cultural Affairs
• 1989
  Judge at the 26th Japan Traditional Textile Arts Exhibition
  Submitted to the “Revival of the Yukata” Exhibition at the National Museum of Modern Art, Tokyo
• 2007
  Judge at the 54th Japan Traditional Art Crafts Exhibition
• 2010
  Received the Medal with Purple Ribbon
• 2015
  "Edo Komon Today" exhibition at the Silk Museum
• 2018
  Designated as Important Intangible Cultural Property

Awards

• 1983
  Received the Minister of Education, Science and Culture Prize at the 30th Japan Traditional Art Crafts Exhibition
• 1990
  Received the 10th Anniversary Special POLA Excellence Award
• 1994
  Received the Excellence Award at the 7th MOA Mokichi Okada Awards
• 2006
  Received the Prince Takamatsu Memorial Prize at the 53rd Japan Traditional Art Crafts Exhibition

Public Collections

• National Crafts Museum
• The National Museum of Modern Art, Kyoto
• Ishikawa Prefectural Museum of Art
• Agency for Cultural Affairs