Chihiro Onuma

  • Metalwork
  • 1950 -
Chihiro Onuma

Using things in nature and scenery such as the flow of rivers, waves and plants, as well as geometric patterns for designs.

Membership Full member, Japan Kogei Association
Manager of the Metalwork Department
  • Studied under hammering artist Shiro Sekiya (Holder of Important Intangible Cutural Property)
    Held solo exhibitions twice ('80 and '15)
  • 1950 Born in Tokyo
  • 1970 Graduated from Tokyo Metropolitan Kogei High School, Metalwork Department
    Submitted to the 17th Japan Traditional Kōgei Exhibition for the first time (Nihombashi Mitsukoshi Main Store)
  • 1971 Submitted to the 11th Traditional Kōgei New Works Exhibition (current East Japan Traditional Kōgei Exhibition) for the first time (Nihombashi Mitsukoshi Main Store)
    Submitted to the 1st Metalworks Traditional Kōgei Exhibition for the first time (Nihombashi Mitsukoshi Main Store)
  • 1975 Visited Georg Jensen A/S (Copenhagen, Denmark)
  • 1978 Becomes independent and starts producing artwork
  • 1987 Submitted to the Traditional Kōgei Selection Exhibition as a supporting member (Yokohama Mitsukoshi)
  • 1989 Submitted to the Toyama Traditional Kōgei Exhibition as a supporting member (Takaoka Art Museum)
    Submitted to the Metalworks Traditional Kōgei Selection Exhibition as a supporting member (Tsubame Industrial Materials Museum)
  • 1990 Submitted to the World of Tea Ceremony Exhibition held at the Omiya Museum of Art (currently closed) as a supporting member
    Submitted to the Metalwork Exhibition held at the Museum of Sword Fittings (currently closed) as a supporting member
  • 1997 Evaluator at the 27th Metalworks Traditional Kōgei Exhibition (also in '16)
  • 2007 Metalwork article published in "Weekly Living National Treasures" (Asahi Shimbun Publications)
  • 2009 Assistant at the ”hammering" successors training program held by Holder of Important Intangible Cultural Property, Hoseki Okuyama ('10)
    Opened new studio (18-po) (– '13)
  • 2012 Evaluator at the 52nd East Japan Traditional Kōgei Exhibition (Traditional Kōgei New Works Exhibition)
    Examiner for practical skill examination of the traditional craftsman certification examination (delegated by the Tokyo Gold and Silver Vessel Industry Cooperative Association)
  • 2013 Judge for the All Japan Gold and Silver Exhibition (delegated by the Tokyo Gold and Silver Vessel Industry Cooperative Association) ('15 '19)
    Opened new studio (18-po+)
    Part-time lecturer at Tokyo Metropolitan Kogei High School Evening High School, Art Craft Department (after working at Tokyo Metropolitan Kogei High School from 1980 to 2011)
  • 2015 Lecture on Shiro Sekiya at "The Techniques and Beauty of Japan" exhibition held at the Akita Seshu Museum of Art and Akarenga-kan Museum
  • 2016 Assistant at the ”hammering" successors training program held by Holder of Important Intangible Cultural Property, Toshichika Taguchi ('17)
  • Photos of artwork published in the following:
    Traditional Kogei Today published by Kodansha ('83)
    Pattern Notebook, Basics and Application published by Visual Design Laboratory ('87)
    Tea Ceremony Artists Series – Metalwork published by Tankosha
  • 2023 Evaluator and Judge at the 63th East Japan Traditional Kōgei Exhibition

  • 1972Submitted to the Shinsho Kogei Exhibition and received the Incentive Award twice (up to '76)
  • 1974Received the Commissioner for Cultural Affairs Award at the 4th Metalworks Traditional Kōgei Exhibition ('98)
  • 1978Received the Tokyo Metropolitan Board of Education Award at the 8th Metalworks Traditional Kōgei Exhibition
  • 1995Received the Japan Kōgei Association Award at the 25th Metalworks Traditional Kōgei Exhibition ('96 and '00)

  • Four pieces of artwork scheduled to be added to the collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of Asian Art

Price Range

$ 3,000 - 14,000

The prices of the artworks on Gallery Japan are determined by the artists themselves and are published directly on the website.

29 artworks posted