Kiichiro Masumura

• Designation
  Living National Treasure (Important Intangible Cultural Property for Lacquer)
• Category
  Lacquerware
• Techniques
  Dry lacquer, Lacquering, Maki-e
• Born
  1941 -
• Based in
  Saitama
• Membership
  Full member, Japan Kogei Association
  Professor emeritus at Tokyo University of the Arts
  Advisor at the Japan Kogei Association
  Chairman of the the Japan Cultural Property Lacquer Association
  Judge for certifying traditional craftsmen at the Association for the Promotion of Traditional Craft Industries

About the Artist

Kyushitsu Techniques to be Passed Down to the Next Generation

Kyushitsu is known as the oldest technique in lacquer art. Lacquer artist Kiichiro Masumura studied lacquer art in Tokyo University of the Arts Graduate School and also learned traditional kyushitsu techniques from his father, Living National Treasure, Mashiki Masumura. He later restored a Shosoin treasure and extended his range of expression. In 2002, he received the Medal with Purple Ribbon which is a medal given to those who have made distinguished achievement in the art field. He was designated as Living National Treasure for kyushitsu in 2008. His artwork made with lacquering techniques taking advantage of the characteristics of lacquer and beautiful forms have been added to the collections of art museums in Japan and overseas, and impress those who see them.

Style

Kyushitsu technique – this is where urushi lacquer brings out the beauty of wood, bark, linen and hemp yarn.

Biography

• 1941
  Born in Tokyo as the first son of lacquerware artist Mashiki Masumura
• 1969
  Graduated from Tokyo University of the Arts Graduate School, Department of Crafts, Japanese Lacquer Course
• 1993
  Invited to submit to the "Nuances in Lacquer: 70 Years of Innovations" exhibition at the National Museum of Modern Art, Tokyo
• 1995
  Invited to submit to the "Japanese Studio Crafts" exhibition at the Victoria and Albert Museum, London. Artwork purchased by the museum.
• 1996
  Invited to submit to the "Rainbows and Shimmering Bridges -Contemporary Japanese Lacquerware Exhibition" at the Japan Society Gallery, NY and the Denver Art Museum, USA
• 1997
  Appears on NHK TV program "Saturday Art Morning", nationwide broadcast
• 1998
  Reproduced an imitation of a Shosoin treasure "Shippi Onkesabako (Box for storing Emperor Shomu's stoles)" made with lacquered leather owned by the Imperial Household Agency
• 2000
  Becomes Director of the Japan Kogei Association (Executive Director from 2004 - 2009)
• 2002
  Curator of The University Art Museum, Tokyo University of the Arts (until March 2009)
• 2006
  Chairman of the Japan Kogei Association Lacquerware Department (until 2009)
• 2007
  Invited to submit to "Crafting Beauty in Modern Japan:Celebrating Fifty Years of the Japan Traditional Art Crafts" Exhibition, British Museum, UK
• 2008
  Designated as Holder of Important Intangible Cultural Property
• 2010
  Becomes Goodwill Ambassador for Kasukabe City
  Participates in the Imperial New Year's Poetry Reading Ceremony
• 2013
  Made new sacred treasures for Ise Jingu. Had an audience with the emperor. Attended the "Sengyo Ritual" at Ise Jingu.
• 2016
  Technical arts' documentary movie, "Kyushitsu, The Lacquer Art by Masumura Kiichiro", made by the Agency for Cultural Affairs, completed
• 2018
  "Lacquer Friends of the World" exhibition at Museum für Lackkunst, Münster, Germany
  Submitted to "URUSHI Tradition and Innovation" travelling exhibition held at Ishikawa Prefectural Museum of Art, SOGO Museum of Art, and MOA Museum of Art (Atami, Shizuoka) (- 2019)
• 2020
  "Kogei 2020 - The Art of Crafting Beauty from Nature" at Tokyo National Museum, Hyokeikan

Awards

• 1979
  Recieved the Japan Kogei Association Chairman's Award for the "Kanshitsu Cinnabar-lacquer Tray with Handle" at the 26th Japan Traditional Kōgei Exhibition
• 1981
  Received the Asahi Shimbun Award for the "Kanshitsu Cinnabar-lacquer Floral-shaped Bowl" at the 28th Japan Traditional Kōgei Exhibition
• 1989
  Received the Important Intangible Cultural Property Holder Selection Award at the 36th Japan Traditional Kōgei Exhibition
• 2002
  Received the Medal with Purple Ribbon
• 2008
  Received the Grand Prize at the16th MOA Mokichi Okada Award Exhibition
  Received the Kasukabe City Honor Award
• 2012
  Received the Order of the Sacred Treasure, Gold Rays with Neck Ribbon
• 2021
  Received the Saitama Cultural Award

Public Collections

• The National Museum of Modern Art, Tokyo
• Victoria and Albert Museum (London)
• MOA Museum of Art
• The University Art Museum, Tokyo University of the Arts
• Museo de Arte Moderno de Buenos Aires (Argentina)
• The Museum of Lacquer Art Münster (Germany)
• Agency for Cultural Affairs
• Jingu Art Museum
• Yamanashi Prefectural Museum
• Museum of Kyushu Sangyo University
• Daegu University Central Museum (Korea)
• Wajima Museum of Urushi Art
• Wajima Urushi Art Technical Training Center
• Kiso Lacquerware Museum
• Yakushiji Temple