Tatsuo Nagaoka

• Category
  Sunagowork
• Techniques
  Sunagowork
• Born
  1940 -
• Based in
  Toyama
• Membership
  Full member, Japan Kogei Association
  Toyama Prefecture Hyougu Craftsmen Cultural Association

Style

Production of sunagowork using real gold started during the Tempyo period (710－794), and the techniques were completed in the Heian period (794－1185). Sunagowork can be seen in national treasures such as Heike Nokyo (sutras dedicated by the Taira family) and Sanjurokuninkashu (manuscript of Japanese poems written by the 36 master poets). From then on, the sunago techniques were improved and passed down to this day as a traditional craft unique to Japan. The sensibility of Japanese people developed sunagowork through times. I want to produce refined, elegant sunagowork to match our modern life style.

Biography

• 1940
  Born in Fukuno Town, Toyama Prefecture (current Fukuno, Nanto City)
• 1958
  Graduated from Takaoka Kogei High School, Design and Painting course
• 1964
  Becomes 7th head of mounting shop Nagaoka Seijudo (in business since 1773)
• 1983
  Two-panel Screen with Sunago "Peony" seen by Emperor Hirohito (Showa Emperor)
  Two-panel Screen with Sunago "Distant Mountain" used at the Japan-US summit meeting
• 1985
  Designated as "Contemporary Master Craftsman" and awarded for outstanding skills by the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare
• 1987
  Awarded by Fukuno Town for distinguished service in art
• 1991
  Becomes Full Member of the Japan Kōgei Association
• 1996
  Framed Sunagowork "Sun” seen by the Crown Prince and Crown Princess
• 1998
  Produced a wall painting with sunago for the special reception room at the new government building of Uchinada Town (Ishikawa Prefecture)
  Received the Medal with Yellow Ribbon
• 2001
  Two-panel Screen with Sunago "Distant Mountain" exhibited at the Wedgewood Main Store in London in commemoration of "Japan 2001" in the UK
• 2008
  The Kitanippon Monthly Art Tatsuo Nagaoka Exhibition at the Kitanippon Shimbun Gallery
• 2009
  Sunago introduced in NHK TV program "Bi no Tsubo 'Gold Leaf'"
  Submitted to the 2nd "Kanazawa and Nanki Craftworks of Today" Exhibition at the 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art, Kanazawa

Awards

• 1973
  Received the Governor Award at the 60th Toyama Mounting Exhibition
• 2013
  Received the Japan Kōgei Association Award at the 24th Other Crafts Traditional Kōgei Exhibition
  Received the Takaoka Mayor Award at the 52nd Toyama Traditional Kōgei Exhibition
• 2015
  Received the Mitsukoshi Isetan Award at the 25th Other Crafts Traditional Kōgei Exhibition
• 2019
  Received the Japan Kōgei Association Incentive Award at the 66th Japan Traditional Kōgei Exhibition
• 2021
  Received the Japan Kōgei Association Award at the 28th Other Crafts Traditional Kōgei Exhibition
  Received the Takaoka Mayor Award at the 60th Toyama Traditional Kōgei Exhibition