Yoshito Yamashita

• Designation
  Living National Treasure (Important Intangible Cultural Property for Kinma)
• Category
  Lacquerware
• Techniques
  Kinma, Maki-e
• Born
  1951 -
• Based in
  Kagawa
• Membership
  Full member, Japan Kogei Association
  Head lecturer at the Urushi Lacquer Ware Institute
  Head lecturer at the Ishikawa Prefectural Institute of Wajima Lacquer Arts
  Councilor at the Japan Kogei Association
  Person of Cultural Merit in Kagawa Prefecture
  Committee Member of the Kagawa Prefecture Culture and Arts Promotion Council

Style

The characteristics of the kinma (incised and colour-filled decoration) technique are the painstaking repetition of wide-ranging engraving and color filling. This process with its dozens of layers of pale to deep colored lacquer enables the intricate expression of color lacquer gradation. Sometimes the maki-e technique is jointly used to add extra beauty. With the free use of these techniques, YAMASHITA produces his works with distinctive designs inspired by the realm of nature. His style, earning the highest praise, is artistically outstanding and expresses the subtle vitality and poetic sentiment of nature.

Biography

• 1951
  Born in Shinzai-Kawakubo-cho, Takamatsu City, Kagawa Prefecture
• 1970
  Studied under the Important Intangible Cultural Property Holder in “Kinma” (Living National Treasure) ISOI Masami
• 1976
  Studied under the Important Intangible Cultural Property Holder in “Kinma” (Living National Treasure) TAGUCHI Yoshikuni
• 1980
  Full member, Japan Kogei Association
• 1990
  Participated in the Pola Art Foundation’s “Seeking the Roots of Kinma” film-crew travelling around Myanmar and Thailand
• 1991
  Judge at the 8th Exhibition of Japanese Traditional Urushi Works. Held the post to date
• 1993
  Jury member at the 58th Kagawa Prefectural Art Exhibition. Held the post to date
• 1996
  Judge at the 43rd Japan Traditional Art Crafts Exhibition. Held the post to date
• 2000
  Supervised the restoration works of the ceilings decorated with Maki-e lacquer at the Konpiragu Shrine (Completed in 2004)
  Crafts study tour to Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region in Western China
• 2001
  Designated as an Intangible Cultural Property Holder by Kagawa Prefecture
• 2003
  Offered a Maki-e painting to Kotohiragu Shrine
• 2007
  Invited to submit to the Shikinen Sengu Memorial Museum Special Exhibition titled “Moon – In Line with the Utakai Hajime Theme”
  Received the Medal with Purple Ribbon
  His studio was visited by His Royal Highness Prince Katsura. Offered a work as a gift
• 2008
  Received the Kagawa Cultural Award
• 2011
  Commended by Kagawa Prefecture for Distinguished Service in Education and Culture
• 2013
  His work was designated as an Important Intangible Cultural Property
• 2014
  Dedicated the Octagonal Box with Design in Kinma "Bright Moon" to Ise Jingu
• 2018
  Artwork presented to His Imperial Highness the Crown Prince from Kagawa Prefecture
• 2019
  Artwork presented to His Majesty the Emperor from Kagawa Prefecture
• 2021
  Techincal Arts Documentary Film by the Agency for Cultural Affairs "About the Kinma Box 'Reimei'" completed

Awards

• 1980
  Received the Governor’s Award at the 45th Kagawa Prefectural Art Exhibition
• 1986
  Received the Asahi Shimbun Award at the 3rd Lacquerware Traditional Kōgei Exhibition
• 1987
  Received the Agency for Cultural Affairs Commissioner's Award at the 4th Lacquerware Traditional Kōgei Exhibition
• 1989
  Received the Asahi Shimbun Award at the 36th Japan Traditional Kōgei Exhibition (The exhibited work was purchased by the Kagawa Cultural Hall)
• 1994
  Received the Asahi Shimbun Award at the 41st Japan Traditional Kōgei Exhibition (The exhibited work was purchased by the Agency for Cultural Affairs)
• 1995
  Received the 35th Shikoku Shimbun Cultural Award
• 2005
  Received the Japan Kōgei Association Important Intangible Cultural Property Holder Award at the 52nd Japan Traditional Kōgei Exhibition
• 2011
  Received the Japan Kōgei Association Important Intangible Cultural Property Holder Award at the 58th Japan Traditional Kōgei Exhibition
• 2012
  Received the Excellence Award at the 32nd POLA Traditional Culture Awards
• 2019
  Received the Yonden Arts and Culture Award