Hozan Nagura V

About the Artist

echniques and tradition propelling practical items to works of art

Few people would think that an ink stone (a natural stone to grind ink sticks to prepare ink for calligraphy) is a craft. But Hozan Nagura added his molding and carving techniques to this traditional, practical tool and enhanced it into an artistic craft. For a long time, ink stones made in China were highly appreciated in Japan. His ink stone was the first to receive recognition from the Japanese government, and his artwork has been added to the collection of the Tokyo National Museum. He has made a big contribution in elevating the ink stone to an "artistic craft" while maintaining its practical aspect to produce ink. There are no limits to the evolution of his creativity.

Style

As stone materials I use kimpo-seki, engan-seki, and homei-seki, collected around Kadoya, and the suzuri (ink stone) made of these three types of stone are called “Horaiji Suzuri.”　

Not only do I want to improve and cultivate the techniques handed down by my predecessors, and pass them on to the next generation, but I also want to develop suzuri from a simple calligraphy utensil to a work of art as a “vessel imbued with heart” that expresses the spirit and aesthetic sense of the Japanese people. I do not want to just follow a Chinese style, rather I aim to elevate the value of suzuri toward a new cultural and artistic domain of Japanese style; with this hope, I carry out my day-to-day production.

Biography

• 1953
  Born in Shinshiro City (former Hourai-cho), Aichi Prefecture as the first son of 4th Generation Hozan ( Masayasu)
• 1972
  Graduated from Aichi Prefectural Asahigaoka High School, Art Course
• 1977
  Graduated from Tokyo University of the Arts, Faculty of Fine Arts, Department of Sculpture
• 1980
  Selected for the Tōkai Traditional Kōgei Exhibition (selected several times from this year onward)
• 1981
  Selected for the 28th Japan Traditional Kōgei Exhibition (selected several times from this year onward)
• 1982
  Seto Kogei Association Group Exhibition at Mitsukoshi, Nagoya. Several group exhibitions and special exhibitions from this year onward.
• 1983
  Selected for the first Other Crafts Traditional Kōgei Exhibition (selected several times from this year onward)
• 1988
  Becomes full member of the Japan Kōgei Association
• 1992
  Father and Son Exhibition with 4th Generation Hozan (Maruei Department Store, Nagoya and Toyohashi)
• 1997
  Solo Exhibition (Takashimaya, Gifu and Maruei, Nagoya)
• 1999
  Judge at the 30th Tōkai Traditional Kōgei Exhibition
  Solo Exhibition at Maruei, Nagoya
• 2001
  Judge at the 17th Other Crafts Traditional Kōgei Exhibition
• 2002
  Judge at the 18th Other Crafts Traditional Kōgei Exhibition
• 2003
  Succeeded to the name Hozan, the 5th. Solo exhibition at Maruei, Nagoya and Toyohashi
• 2004
  Evaluator at the 51st Japan Traditional Kōgei Exhibition
• 2006
  Solo Exhibitions at Maruei, Nagoya and Horaikan, Shinshiro City, Aichi
• 2008
  Specially invited to submit to the 21st Other Crafts Traditional Kōgei Exhibition
  Evaluator at the 55th Japan Traditional Kōgei Exhibition
  Solo Exhibitions at Maruei, Nagoya and Horaikan, Shinshiro City, Aichi
• 2011
  Evaluator at the 23rd Other Crafts Traditional Kōgei Exhibition
• 2012
  Solo exhibitions at Takashimaya, Nagoya and Osaka
  Evaluator at the 59th Japan Traditional Kōgei Exhibition
• 2014
  Specially invited to submit to the 61st Japan Traditional Kōgei Exhibition
• 2016
  Solo exhibitions at Takashimaya (Osaka and JR Nagoya) and Gallery Yohaku, Nagoya
  Dedicated art work to "100 Selected Treasures of the Heisei Era" (Yakushiji Temple, Nara)
• 2017
  Solo exhibition at G-WING'S Gallery, Kanazawa, Ishikawa
  "The World of Ink, The Beauty of Ink Stones" Exhibition at Furukawa Art Museum, Tamesaburo Memorial Hall, Nagoya
  "Selected Treasures of the Heisei Era" Exhibition at Yakushiji Temple, Nara
• 2018
  Solo Exhibition at Matsuzakaya, Nagoya
  Evaluator at the 65th Japan Traditional Kōgei Exhibition
• 2019
  Solo exhibitions at Takashimaya Osaka and JR Nagoya
• 2020
  Solo Exhibition at Takashimaya, Yonago
  "200 Selected Works of Japanese Calligraphers - in Commemoration of the Tokyo 2020 Olymic and Paralympic Games"Exhibition at The National Art Center, Tokyo
  "Crafts of Aichi" Exhibition at Furukawa Art Museum, Nagoya
• 2021
  Evaluator at the 68th Japan Traditional Kōgei Exhibition

Awards

• 1990
  Received the Aichi Governor Award at the 21st Tōkai Traditional Kōgei Exhibition
• 1991
  Received the Japan Kōgei Association Award at the 7th Other Crafts Traditional Kōgei Exhibition
• 1995
  Received the Nagoya Mayor Award at the 26th Tōkai Traditional Kōgei　Exhibition
• 1996
  Received the Chunichi Award at the 27th Tōkai Traditional Kōgei Exhibition
• 1997
  Received the Gifu Takashimaya Award at the 28th Tōkai Traditional Kōgei Exhibition
  Received the Japan Kōgei Association Incentive Award at the 44th Japan Traditional Kōgei Exhibition
  Art work purchased by the Agency for Cultural Affairs
• 1999
  Recieved the 21st City Cultural Encouragement Award (Aichi)
• 2003
  Received the Aichi Prefecture Arts and Culture Encouragement Award
• 2007
  Received the Japan Kōgei Association Award at the 21st Other Crafts Traditional Kōgei Exhibition
• 2013
  Received the Japan Kōgei Association Incentive Award at the 60th Japan Traditional Kōgei Exhibition
  Received the Area Award at the 33rd Pola Award for Traditional Japanese Culture

Public Collections

• Tokyo National Museum
• Yakushiji Temple, Nara
• Silkroad Museum, Hamamatsu

Official Site / Social Media etc.

• Official Site