Kenji Nakai

• Category
  Textiles
• Techniques
  Yūzen dyeing
• Born
  1950 -
• Based in
  Kyoto
• Membership
  Full member, Japan Kogei Association
  Traditional Craftsman designated by the Traditional Crafts Industry Promotion Association Foundation
  Designated as Master Craftsman of Kyoto

Style

Mainly using the Itome Hon Yuzen technique (a glue resist dyeing technique used to dye patterns) to express the changes of the four seasons and the scenes of nature that change by the minute like the wind and the light delicately and sometimes dynamically.

Biography

• 1950
  Born in Kyoto
• 1965
  Studies dyeing under his father, Kyoto Yuzen Master Takejiro Nakai
• 1966
  Studies under Japanese-style painting under Japanese-style painter Beian Satomi
• 1982
  Qualified to submit to the Traditional Craft Technique Competition without submitting to the selecting committee
• 1986
  Becomes Director of Kyoto Shinsai Kogei Cooperative Association (– 2003)
• 1994
  Designated as Traditional Craftsman of Traditional Crafts specified by the Minister of Economy, Trade, and Industry
• 1996
  Yuzen semi-formal kimono "Seiin" purchased by Kyoto City
• 1999
  Supervisor of Kyo-yuzen Kyodoukumiai Rengoukai and Traditional Craftsmen Association (– 2001)
• 2006
  Supervisor of Japan Dyeing and Weaving Designers’ Association (– 2013)
• 2008
  Becomes Full Member of the Japan Kogei Association
• 2013
  Qualified to submit to the Japan Dyeing and Weaving Designers’ Exhibition without submitting to the selecting committee
• 2015
  Designated as Yuzen Dyeing Master Craftsman of Kyoto

Awards

• 1977
  Received the Excellence Award at the 4th Kyoto Traditional Craft Technique Competition
• 1978
  Received the Excellence Award at the 5th Kyoto Traditional Craft Technique Competition
• 1980
  Received the Excellence Award at the 7th Kyoto Traditional Craft Technique Competition
• 1981
  Received an Honorable Mention at the 8th Kyoto Traditional Craft Technique Competition
  Received an Honorable Mention at the 9th Kyoto Traditional Craft Technique Competition
• 2004
  Received the Governor Award at the 27th Japan Dyeing and Weaving Designers’ Exhibition
• 2006
  Received the MEXT Award at the 29th Japan Dyeing and Weaving Designers’ Exhibition
• 2008
  Received the Governor Award at the 31st Japan Dyeing and Weaving Designers’ Exhibition
• 2009
  Received the Governor Award at the 32nd Japan Dyeing and Weaving Designers’ Exhibition
• 2010
  Received the Kansai Bureau of Economy, Trade and Industry Director-General Award at the 15th Kyoto Tegaki Yuzen Art Exhibition
  Received the MEXT Award at the 33rd Japan Dyeing and Weaving Designers’ Exhibition
• 2011
  Received the Governor Award at the 34th Japan Dyeing and Weaving Designers’ Exhibition
• 2012
  Received the Kansai Bureau of Economy, Trade and Industry Director-General Award at the 17th Kyoto Tegaki Yuzen Art Exhibition
  Received the MEXT Award at the 35th Japan Dyeing and Weaving Designers’ Exhibition
  Received the Prince Takamatsu Memorial Award at the 59th Japan Traditional Kōgei Exhibition
• 2016
  Received the Kansai Bureau of Economy, Trade and Industry Director-General Award at the 21st Kyoto Tegaki Yuzen Art Exhibition
• 2021
  Received the Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Award at the 26th Kyoto Tegaki Yuzen Art Exhibition

Official Site / Social Media etc.

• Official Site