Komin Ozawa

• Designation
  Living National Treasure (Important Intangible Cultural Property for Casting)
• Category
  Metalwork
• Born
  1941 - 2023

Style

If there is no light, everything freezes, and there is no life. Also, if there is no water, everything burns out, and again there is no life.

Because of the perfect harmony of light and water, there is the planet Earth, and also the universe.
Something invisible, something that cannot be felt on the skin,

Wind, whirlpools, radio waves, sounds, magnetism, air, and so on
These are also a manifestation of the harmony of light and water.

I express light in red lines and water in white lines, and I want to continue my creative activities with a focus on light and water images.

Biography

• 1941
  Born on September 26, Fusumae, Takaoka City
• 1954
  Graduated from Futatsuka Elementary School, Takaoka City
• 1957
  Graduated from Yoshino Junior High School, Takaoka City
• 1958
  Graduated from Copperware Division, Vocational Training Center, Toyama Prefecture
  Started working for Koshii Manufacturing
• 1968
  Member of the inaugural class at the Local Industrial Technology Training School (current Traditional Arts and Crafts Training School), Takaoka City (enrolled for 6 years)
• 1969
  Established Osawa Art Casting Factory to the present
• 1975
  Took the pseudonym of Koumin
• 1976
  Director, Takaoka Traditional Industry Youth Organization (-1978)
• 1978
  Chairman, Development Research Committee, Takaoka Traditional Industry Youth Organization (-1980)
  Chairman, Takaoka Casting Association　　
  Director, Traditional Art Craft Takaoka Casting Promotion Cooperative Association (-1990)
• 1980
  Developed an internal chill casting method
• 1983
  Full member, Japan Kogei Association
• 1985
  Invited to submit to Toyama Artists Exhibition '85, Takaoka Art Museum
• 1994
  Submitted to Japanese Metal Casting Arts Exhibition: Shape of Imono, Azabu Museum of Arts and Crafts and others. Submitted in 1996, 1999
• 1995
  Invited to submit to Metal Casting Arts and Artists in Toyama, Shogawa Memorial Museum
• 1997
  Instructor for Successor Training Course, Traditional Art Craft Takaoka Casting Promotion Cooperative Association (-1998)
• 2003
  Koumin Osawa Exhibition: Insert Casting Metals, Kitanippon Shimbun Gallery
• Awards
• 1976
  Received the Outstanding Skilled Worker Award for Traditional Art Crafts, Takaoka City
• 1977
  Designated as a Traditional Art Craftsman in the casting category
• 1995
  Designated as a holder of in Traditional Arts and Crafts Industrial Technology, Takaoka City
• 1996
  Received the Commendation from the Takaoka City Board of Education for Distinguished Service in the field of Education
• 1998
  Received the Commendation from the Chubu Regional Bureaus of International Trade and Industry for Distinguished Service in the field of Traditional Arts and Crafts
• 2000
  Received the International Trade and Industry Minister's Commendation; Commendation from Toyama Prefecture for Distinguished Service in the Industry
• 2001
  Received the Takaoka Citizen’s Culture Award
• 2004
  Acknowledged as a “Contemporary Master Craftsman” title bestowed on outstanding skilled artists by the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare
• 2005
  Received the Commendation from Takaoka City for Distinguished Service in the Field; Designated as a holder of important intangible cultural property (metal casting); Received the Kitanippon Shimbun Culture Award
• 2006
  Received the NHK Furusato Toyama Award

Awards

• 1969
  Received the Incentive Award at the 22nd Takaoka City Exhibition at the first attempt
• 1973
  Received the Hokuriku Contemporary Arts and Crafts Exhibition Award at the 2nd Hokuriku
  Contemporary Arts and Crafts Exhibition
• 1974
  Received the Prefecture Exhibition Award at the 29th Toyama Prefecture Exhibition
• 1975
  Received the Grand Prize at the 2nd Takaoka Traditional Craft Techniques Promotion Exhibition
• 1976
  Received the Grand Prize at the 3rd Takaoka Traditional Craft Techniques Promotion Exhibition
  Received the Design Award at the 16th Toyama Design Exhibition
• 1980
  Received the Incentive Award at the 10th Japanese Traditional Metalwork New Works Exhibition
• 1981
  Received the Incentive Award at the 11th Japanese Traditional Metalwork New Works Exhibition
  Received the Japan Kogei Association Award at the 20th Japan Traditional Art Crafts Toyama Exhibition
• 1984
  Received the Takaoka City Mayor’s Award at the 37th Takaoka City Exhibition
  Received the Tokyo Board of Education Award at 14th Japanese Traditional Metalwork Exhibition
  Received the Japan Kogei Association Incentive Award at the 31st Japan Traditional Art Crafts Exhibition
• 1985
  Received the Excellence Award by the successor training course of important intangible cultural property led by KATORI
  Masahiko
• 1990
  Received the Hoshu Award at the 29th Japan Traditional Art Crafts Toyama Exhibition
• 1996
  Received the Kitanihon Shimbun Award at the 35th Japan Traditional Art Crafts Toyama Exhibition
• 1997
  Received the Toyama Board of Education Award at the 36th Japan Traditional Art Crafts Toyama Exhibition
• 1998
  Received the Governor of Toyama Prize at the 37th Japan Traditional Art Crafts Toyama Exhibition
• 1999
  Received the Prefecture Exhibition Member Award at the 53rd Toyama Prefecture Exhibition
  Received the Japan Kogei Association Award at the 38th Japan Traditional Art Crafts Toyama Exhibition
  Received the Japan Kogei Association Award at the 29th Japanese Traditional Metalwork Exhibition
• 2000
  Received the Prince Takamatsu Memorial Prize at the 47th Japan Traditional Art Crafts Exhibition
• 2002
  Received the Toyama Board of Education Award at the 41st Japan Traditional Art Crafts Toyama Exhibition