FEATURED
ARTISTS
Kotaro Omura
- Price Range
- $3,000 - 7,000
Yuzen Techniques Handed Down from 3 Masters
Kotaro Omura, a yuzen artist who received the MEXT Award at the 70th Japan Traditional Kōgei Exhibition. After graduating from arts college, he learned traditional yuzen techniques such as "itome yuzen" and "rofubukizome", a dyeing technique to finish the textile as if some snow fell on it, from 3 yuzen artists, Akeshi Kihara, Kihachiro Yoshida and his father Teiichi Omura. He took over his father's studio in Kyoto in 2013, and has been producing textiles up to today. On producing his textiles, Omura takes design cues from sketches. Animals such as fish and birds, plants, and scenery incorporated into modern designs are the charm of his work.
Toshie Oki
Harmony of Lively Designs and Original Techniques
Toshie Oki has received many awards including the Grand Award, MEXT Award at the Wood and Bamboo Traditional Kōgei Exhibition where the top level wood and bamboo artists in Japan gather. She devoted herself in studying wood and bamboo art techniques under Living National Treasure Shokansai Iizuka who is said to have formed the base of today's bamboo art as his last apprentice. Currently, she uses her original technique called "takaori" which is creating ridge lines by weaving diagonally bent bamboo strips, and creates artwork with a lively design but with a gracious appearance. Her artwork has been added to the collection of the National Gallery of Victoria, the oldest art museum in Australia, and is highly evaluated within Japan and overseas.
Satoshi Hara
- Price Range
- $2,000 - 6,000
Enhancing the beauty of metal using traditional techniques and unique expressions
Satoshi Hara is a metalwork artist who forms his artwork by hammering a metal plate, and uses his original technique called nanako inlay. The lines and dots on the surface of the vessel look as if they have been painted, but actually, a high level inlay technique is used to inlay a different type of metal. Hara created a unique technique by combining the inlay technique with a traditional chasing technique called nanako where circles are consecutively engraved. His artwork with accurate and delicate designs have been awarded many times at the Metalwork Traditional Kōgei Exhibition where the artworks of Living National Treasure to the up-and-coming artists gather, and have also been added to the collections of art museums overseas.
Yousai Inoue
Putting Her Heart and Thoughts in Her Artwork
"I want to make graceful, beautiful, cute dolls that you would want to keep beside you all the time" says doll artist Yousai Inoue. She has received many awards including the Japan Kōgei Association Chairman Award at the Japan Traditional Kōgei Exhibition where the top level artworks in Japan gather. After learning about dolls with urushi lacquer finish from Living National Treasure Nobuko Akiyama, she too started studying about lacquer art. In her recent years, she has been using urushi lacquer to finish her dolls with soft luster. Urushi lacquer has excellent durability and has been used in many art pieces from long ago. She makes her dolls hoping that they will remain unchanged and everlasting.
Hitoshi Awane
Creating the future of cloisonne with refined techniques
Cloisonne artist Hitoshi Awane is well known for his clear blue colors. He draws patterns on the cloisonne base using silver ribbon-like wires, and repeats the process of glazing and firing to create deep colors. Very precise and accurate techniques are required in each process from the beginning to completion. Awane specializes in three-dimensional figurative expressions on the base and does designing to processing by himself. He has been exploring new possibilities of expression using cloisonne. His numerous artworks that have elevated the traditional craft to art, have been awarded in Japan's top craft exhibitions, and have been highly evaluated within Japan and overseas.
Manji Inoue
- Price Range
- $1,000 - 21,000
Mastering the formative beauty of white porcelain with his extraordinary skills
Ceramic artist Manji Inoue makes ceramics at his studio that bears his name in Arita, Saga prefecture. He is famous for his neatly formed artwork created with excellent skills using the potter's wheel. After providing technical training overseas and holding several exhibitions, he was designated as Living National Treasure for "white porcelain" in 1995. He has been praised for his achievements in the art field and received the Medal with Purple Ribbon. With his sensitivity that matches the needs of times, his artwork is loved by many people both in Japan and overseas. The forms of his artwork have a slight sense of tension, but at the same time his artwork creates a unique, friendly atmosphere and gives pleasure to those who see and use them.
Masakazu Ishihara
- Price Range
- $60 - 67,000
Breaking new ground in the field of lacquerware with high quality traditional techniques and modern designs
Masakazu Ishihara studied under Living National Treasure and Sanuki lacquerware artist, Kodo Otomaru, and was designated as Intangible Cultural Property of Kagawa prefecture for choshitsu (lacquer carving) in 2011. His specialties are choshitsu, which is applying layers of lacquer and carving patterns to make them look three dimensional, and tsuishitsu inlay, which is inlaying parts applied with layers of lacquer. He has been awarded several times at the Lacquerware Traditional Kōgei Exhibition and the Japan Traditional Kōgei Exhibition where the most recent artwork of artists representing Japan gather. He established his own style, "creating lacquerware that is beautiful, yet practical in our modern life style, using high quality, traditional techniques", and is currently taking on new challenges to make innovative lacquerware that has never been made before.
Masahiro Maeda
- Price Range
- $300 - 6,000
Ceramics that give pleasure and brighten those who see it
Masahiro Maeda is a ceramic artist who celebrated his 50th year as an artist in 2022. After graduating from Tokyo University of the Arts Graduate School, he participated in various exhibitions in Japan and overseas. In 2009, he received the top award at the Japan Traditional Kōgei Exhibition, the Japan Kōgei Association Chairman Award, and established a firm position as an artist. His artwork is not only collected by art museums in Japan, but also by famous museums overseas including the Philadelphia Museum of Art and the Brooklyn Museum. He is known for his unique lattice patterns that he creates using his original technique, which is repeating the process of applying extremely thin masking tape on the vessel, coloring and firing. He says, "the basics of crafts are to be bright, fun and beautiful". His colorful artwork of various sizes gives pleasure to those who see and use his artwork.
Ryoko Murakami
Using beautiful plant dye colors and bold designs to create charming tsumugi weave
Tsumugi weave artist Ryoko Murakami creates kimonos with spun floss silk thread. She uses scenes of nature as motifs for her designs. Her exquisite designs using translucent colors of plant dye and innovative color composition are very popular. Murakami studied under Fukumi Shimura, Living National Treasure for tsumugi weave. While succeeding the tradition, she constantly seeks new designs and ways of expression. In 2015, she received the Japan Kōgei Association Important Intangible Cultural Property Holder Award at the Japan Traditional Kōgei Exhibition, which is the largest craft exhibition in Japan. In the following year, she was designated as Living National Treasure for tsumugi weave. She is currently dedicating her best effort to teach her successors while actively producing new kimonos as a leader of the tsumugi weave world.
Imaemon Imaizumi
- Price Range
- $300 - 33,000
Techniques cultivated throughout a long history passed down to our modern world
Imaemon Imaizumi is the 14th generation Imaemon to succeed Iro-Nabeshima that has been produced since the Edo Period. He is the youngest in history to be designated as Living National Treasure for "overglaze enamel decorated porcelain". He has received several awards at the Japan Traditional Kōgei Exhibition, where the top level artworks in Japan are gathered. His work has been added to the collections of famous museums and art museums in and outside of Japan including the British Museum in London. While succeeding the traditional techniques that his predecessors developed, he is always seeking how to make "modern Iro-Nabeshima", and continues to try unique techniques such as using platinum for overglaze decoration.
Satoshi Ishida
- Price Range
- $6,000 - 16,000
Emphasizing the delicate beauty of glass with Pâte de Verre
Pâte de Verre is a glass manufacturing technique that originated during the Ancient Mesopotamia period. Glass artist Satoshi Ishida grew up in a family where his parents Wataru and Seki Ishida studied this technique in Kyoto and enhanced it into a new category of art, "cast glass". While studying about glass art himself, he traveled around various countries in Asia, the Middle-East and the US to seek his original style. In 2006, he received the best award (the Japan Kōgei Association President Award) at the Japan Traditional Kōgei Exhibition where the top level artworks in the Japan gather. The adventurous forms and delicate, exotic patterns are distinctive characteristics of his artwork.
Ryuhei Sako
- Price Range
- $2,000 - 24,000
Showing His One-and-Only Presence with His original Techniques
Patterns that look like wood grains called "mokumegane (wood grain metal)" are created by hammering layers of metal. The artworks of Ryuhei Sako, who has excellent skills to make wood grain metal, are very unique. The distinctive patterns and dignified aura of metal express his original mystical world. In 2003, he received the Tokyo Governor Award at the Japan Traditional Kōgei Exhibition where the artworks of Living National Treasures to young artists gather. Following this, he has received many other awards at various exhibitions. His artwork is collected by museums overseas. He is an artist highly evaluated and popular within Japan and abroad.
Kazuo Yamagishi
- Price Range
- $20,000 - 33,000
Expanding the Charm of Lacquerware with Sophisticated Chinkin (Gold Inlay) Techniques
Kazuo Yamagishi works at his studio in Wajima, an area famous for production of lacquerware. He was designated as Living National Treasure for his "Chinkin" techniques, which is inlaying gold powder into the grooves carved on the lacquered surface. The delicate and thin patterns that are barely visible, and the effective lines are all carved by hand. His excellent techniques and artistic expressions are highly evaluated, and in 2005, he received the Praemium Imperiale Award at the Japan Traditional Kōgei Exhibition where the top level artists in Japan gather. He also made a sacred treasure for the Shikinen Sengu (construction of a new shrine) at Ise Jingu. His artwork, using natural motifs of Wajima and created with rich sensibility, charms people of all generations.
Emi Yabuchi
Mixing traditional Kagawa Urushi Lacquerware techniques, colored lacquer and carvings
Many artists creating Kagawa urushi lacquerware, which has a history of 200 years, have been designated as Living National Treasures. Having been charmed by the traditional techniques unique to Kagawa lacquerware, Emi Yabuuchi is a lacquerware artist based in Kagawa. Yabuuchi has been highly praised for her skills in "Kinma", which is a technique where colored lacquer is applied into the carved lines and dots. She received her first award, New Artist Award at the Lacquerware Traditional Kōgei Exhibition in 2009, and since then, she has received various awards at exhibitions where the top lacquerware artists of Japan gather. She expresses natural scenery that she has seen using colored lacquer and creates a colorful, unique atmosphere, entertaining the eyes of those who see her artwork.
Yasumasa Komiya
- Price Range
- $2,000 - 8,000
Timeless kimonos loved for many generations
Yasumasa Komiya received the MEXT Award in 1983 and the Praemium Imperiale Award in 2006 at the Japan Traditional Kōgei Exhibition where the top level artworks in Japan gather. He was designated as Living National Treasure for Edo Komon in 2018. The Komiya family has been designated as Living National Treasure for three generations from Yasumasa's grandfather. While inheriting the traditional techniques of Edo Komon, he has made improvements to meet the needs of the times in his creations. Komiya says, "My aim is to create clear and bright colors that do not lose their brilliance for ages." The kimonos dyed by Komiya are handed down from parent to child and are cherished for many years.
Hiroshi Nakada
Ceramics with the Beautiful Pearlish Luster
Hiroshi Nakada is a ceramic artist known for ceramics with sophisticated forms and pearlish luster. Although he uses clay for Kutani ware, he does not use the multi-colored overglaze enamels usually used for decorating Kutani ware, but uses his original technique called "Shinju Kosai (pearl luster)" where he draws thin delicate stripe patterns with pearl glaze that create a matte luster. Pearl glaze on the white porcelain base. These two different textures of white create an elegant brilliance that changes depending on the angle you see the vessel from. He received the Tokyo Governor Award at the Japan Traditional Kōgei Exhibition in 2020, and is gaining attention domestically and internationally.
Mamoru Nakagawa
- Price Range
- $2,000 - 54,000
Seeking New Ways of Expression with Kaga Inlay
Mamoru Nakagawa was enchanted by the artwork of Kaishu Takahashi, metalwork artist from Kanazawa, Ishikawa, and started his career in producing Kaga Inlay. Not only did he succeed the traditional techniques that were nearly lost, but he added his unique modern designs, injecting new life into the traditional art. In 2004, he was designated as Holder of Important Intangible Cultural Property (Living National Treasure) for metal engraving. His artwork has been added to the collections of the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York and the British Museum in London. He has been giving lectures and performing demonstrations worldwide, and is passing on not only the traditional techniques, but also the charm of Kaga Inlay as a whole to the next generation.
Michiko Matsumoto
Using translucent colors and delicate techniques
Plique-a-jour is a cloisonne with silver lines glistening within the transparent glass. As a leading plique-a-jour artist, Michiko Matsumoto received the Praemium Imperiale Award at the Japan Traditional Kōgei Exhibition where the artworks of the top craft artists gather in 2016. She is gaining more and more attention within Japan and overseas. Her artwork, created with a combination of refreshing colors, taking advantage of the unique characteristics of plique-a-jour, and abstract and simple patterns are charming. You will be sure to be fascinated by her world created with delicate techniques.
Yasuhiro Asai
- Price Range
- $10,000 - 67,000
Finely detailed maki-e techniques
Makie is a representative lacquerware technique that originally developed in Japan. Yasuhiro Asai is an artist gathering much attention with his makie techniques. After graduating from university, he started studying under Living National Treasure for makie, Kazumi Murose. He received the Japan Kōgei Association New Artist Award at the Japan Traditional Kōgei Exhibition in 2012 for his Tortoiseshell Makie Jewelry Box "Path of Light” in which he tried to express the form of light, and received much attention. He is currently creating his artwork in his hometown Tottori, using precious urushi lacquer made in Japan. He fascinates his fans in Japan and abroad with his finely detailed works of art.
Hafu Matsumoto
- Price Range
- $6,000 - 33,000
Pursuing formative beauty by making the most of the characteristics of bamboo
Bamboo artist Hafu Matsumoto received attention for presenting a collaboration artwork with the Spanish fashion brand LOEWE in 2019. He studied under Living National Treasure Shokansai Iizuka, and is pursuing formative beauty that can only be made with bamboo. He makes a wide variety of bamboo artwork from delicate ajiro weave (wickerwork) pieces to those wilth bold designs using a large piece of stretched out bamboo wood, and has received many awards including the Japan Kōgei Association Chairman Award. He is currently creating new bamboo artworks in his workshop in Minami Boso, Chiba.
Hiromine Nakamura
Expressing a moment of a story in his artwork
Artwork of doll artist Hiromine Nakamura, popular for his "Athlete Series" where he uses baseball players etc. as motifs, is based on traditional Hakata doll techniques. Born and raised in a doll artisan family as the fourth generation, he studied under his father Shinkyo Nakamura. He has been awarded several times at the West Japan Traditional Kōgei Exhibition in the Kyushu area where many traditional craft techniques have been handed down for generations. He received the New Artist Award at the Japan Traditional Kōgei Exhibition in 2013, and his artwork has been selected several times from this year onward. His artwork that looks as if he has captured the movement and facial expression of a moment, enables us to imagine the whole story behind the artwork.
Tomoko Eri
Brilliant techniques born from Buddhist art
Kirikane is a technique for mainly decorating Buddha statues and Buddhist paintings. It was introduced to Japan from China around the 6th century together with Buddhism. Tomoko Eri has engaged in decorating Buddha statues herself, but at the same time, she has been using Kirikane techniques that haven't changed for more than 1000 years in her modern artwork. Her elaborate and delicate works of art have been highly evaluated, receiving the New Artist Award at the Japan Traditional Kōgei Exhibition in 2011 and being selected for other various art exhibitions. Following her late mother and Living National Treasure, Sayoko Eri's last wishes, she is currently trying to sublimate traditional Kirikane into artwork that blends with the modern world.
Akira Watanabe
- Price Range
- $300 - 26,000
Expressing the beauty of light with unique techniques
Glass artist, Akira Watanabe has received many awards with his exquisite artwork. He also received the Medal with Purple Ribbon which is a medal awarded to distinguished persons in the field of art in 2008. After graduating from Kyoto University, he learned glass working in Australia and developed his original glass layering technique called "sekiso". Gold powder and colored glass grains sprinkled between the layers of glass sparkle within the glass, and prisms of light are created by cutting the glass with traditional "Kiriko" (cut glass) techniques. His artwork charms those who see them.
Ryuichi Kakurezaki
Unique artwork created with clay and fire
Bizen ware is one of the six ancient kilns where the production of ceramics began in Japan, and has a history of 800 years. Ceramic artist Ryuichi Kakurezaki moved to Bizen from his hometown, and has been producing Bizen ware ceramics to enhance and develop its long tradition. As he says, "I want to treasure my connection with clay", the charm of his artwork is the texture of clay and the colors made by firing. The forms of his artwork are new and original, and he has been invited several times to exhibit at exhibitions in famous museums around the world. He received the MEXT Award at the 69th Japan Traditional Kōgei Exhibition (2022). He is one of the ceramists representing Bizen, and actively promoting Bizen ware.
Sadatsugu Shinjo
Applying original techniques to elevate the forms of tea bowls
Hagi ware has been popular for use in tea ceremony. Sadatsugu Shinjo is the 14th Generation of the "Shinjo Sukeemon Kiln" which was established in the beginning of the 17th century when the production of Hagi ware started. The round form of the tea bowls that fit in the hands have been highly valued not only among masters of tea ceremony, but also by ceramic art lovers and researchers. He has submitted his artwork to various exhibitions overseas, and his work has been added to the collection of the British Museum in the UK.
Tetsu Suzuki
- Price Range
- $1,000 - 9,000
A Unique World Made with Green Glaze
"I try to make things that are unique and new, yet powerful with a strong presence. " As he says, ceramic artist Tetsu Suzuki's artwork is based on Oribe ware, but he doesn't just follow the tradition. He creates his own unique world by making polygonal forms with many sides and by using bright green glaze. He has been awarded several times at the Japan Ceramic Art Exhibition where the top level artwork in Japan gather. He is currently working on tricolor glaze to make a beautiful gradation of colors with three different types of glazes, and continues his challenge to aim at a higher level.
Norihiko Ogura
- Price Range
- $16,000 - 27,000
Charmed by Techniques That Go Beyond the Frame of Lacquerware
Norihiko Ogura, a lacquerware artist whose speciality is motifs of plants and scenery. With his outstanding skills, he is a master of using various lacquerware techniques. He has submitted his artwork to many exhibitions, not only within Japan, but also overseas, and has been highly recognized. In his recent years, he has been working more on pictorial expressions that nobody has ever done before, and has been producing "maki-e panels" by using lacquerware techniques to paint scenery like oil paintings or watercolor paintings. Within this process, he has created his own unique methods. As one of the lacquerware artists who draws attention worldwide, he is connecting and passing on the lacquerware culture that has a history of 1200 years to the future generations.
Kan Takahashi
Traditional Yuzen dyeing in modern designs
Yuzen dyeing is one of the dyeing techniques that represent Japan. Kan Takahashi started his career in dyeing as a teenager, and studied under Living National Treasure, Katsuma Nakamura. "Applying resist glue and dyeing. Applying resist glue again then dyeing. The fabric becomes sophisticated through this simple process." As Takahashi says, the patterns dyed on his fabric are geometric, but are not just practical patterns lacking warmth. Far from it, they even have a soft and warm impression. His kimonos where his unique designs are added to traditional Yuzen dyeing are enjoyed by many people.
Kazuo Nakada
Establishing his original technique by challenging to use silver leaf
Ceramic artist Kazuo Nakada has marked a new phase in the world of traditional Kutani ware by using silver leaf that everyone had been avoiding. As he wanted to express the beauty of silver in his work, he tried using silver leaf instead of gold leaf, and as a result, established his original technique "Yuri ginsai". He continues to create new artwork and is active in the front lines as of today. He cuts the silver leaf into beautiful shapes of plants and other various shapes, and embeds them in the vessel with overglaze. Its beauty is everlasting.
Tamotsu Hannya
- Price Range
- $6,000 - 27,000
Creating mysterious patterns with traditional techniques
Tamotsu Hannya has received awards such as the Japan Kogei Association President Award and the MEXT Award which are the best awards at the Japan Traditional Kōgei Exhibition where the top level art work in Japan is gathered. He uses his original technique called "fukiwake" where he pours in different kinds of metals alternately to create a modern and unique pattern. The innovative and novel designs created by the contrast of black and gold colors are what make Hannya's artwork original and special. His modern designed artwork has been dedicated to Yakushiji in Nara, and are also housed at the National Museum of Modern Art, Tokyo.
Nobuo Matsubara
- Price Range
- $3,000 - 7,000
Traditional Aizome (Indigo Dyed Textiles) from the Edo Period
"Nagaita Chūgata" is a traditional indigo dyeing method using paper patterns. A middle sized pattern is placed on a long board for dyeing. The cloth is indigo dyed from both the front and back sides. The roots of this method is said to be the dyeing techniques for summer kimonos in the Edo Period. His grandfather was designated as Living National Treasure for "Nagaita Chūgata", and following his footsteps, Nobuo himself started his career in textiles. As a third generation artisan, he creates textiles that are suitable for our modern life. His work, with a beautiful contrast of indigo and white, has been awarded several times at the top class craft exhibitions in Japan. He has also received the Medal with Purple Ribbon in 2021 for his contribution in the art field.
Masato Kigasawa
- Price Range
- $5,000 - 11,000
Creating artwork with techniques that have a history of 200 years
Since glass was introduced to Japan from Europe approximately 200 years ago, the techniques for kiriko (cut glass) have been passed down from generation to generation in Edo and Satsuma. Kigasawa, who has been involved in the reproduction of Edo Kiriko and Satsuma Kiriko and has detailed knowledge of cut glass, has been seeking new possibilities that fit with the times. By deeply cutting the thick glass material, he expresses the reflections of light that are unique to glass as well as the background reflections in a more fascinating way. He has received many awards and his work has been purchased by the Imperial Household Agency.
Shu Mochizuki
- Price Range
- $2,000 - 5,000
Expressing his inspirations from nature with unique techniques
Shu Mochizuki is a ceramic artist whose representative motifs are camellias. He became fascinated by ceramic art while he was a student at Tokyo University of the Arts, and has been creating pieces being inspired by nature ever since. In 2019, he received the Japan Kōgei Association President Award, which is the best award at the Japan Traditional Kōgei Exhibition where the artwork of the top level artists in Japan gather. Although his designs of natural motifs are dynamic, his artwork is very sensitive as he bakes the pieces several times in different temperatures to create slight differences in the texture. He is a highly respected ceramic artist and is popular in Japan as well as overseas.
Shinkyo Nakamura
Bringing a fresh sensitivity to traditional Hakata Dolls
Shinkyo Nakamura majored in wood carving at university, and entered the world of doll making later on. He has received various awards at traditional craft exhibitions, and is a doll artist that represents Japan. He produces dolls for a traditional event called "Hakata Gion Yamakasa" at his hometown, Hakata, but at the same time, he takes on new challenges. He produces a series of Hakata dolls with a western appearance called, "The Mission of Youths to the West in the Tensho Era" (a mission of boys sent to Rome in 1582), and has presented some of these dolls to the Pope when he was received in audience by him. As he says, "There is always a story in the world of dolls. I hope you will feel the story in the background when seeing them." , his dolls will surely capture your imagination.
Iwao Shinno
- Price Range
- $300 - 21,000
Seeing new possibilities in sophisticated celadon
Shinnou aimed to become a ceramic artist after encountering Chinese celadon. He thought he would like to create a light, yet deep and transparent blue color, and started to learn ceramics after graduating university. His work gradually gained attention, and he has received high evaluation through the years. He has submitted his artwork to exhibitions in and outside of Japan, and many of his pieces have been added to public collections of art museums in various places. In his studio near Lake Biwa, he makes ceramic works on the theme of the root of life, inspired by the movement of water and the blue of the lake and sky. The patterns created by his unique technique called "Tsuiji" ( making slip from china clay and brushing on layers of the slip to decorate.) look like DNA spirals.
The form and decorations are integrated as a whole, creating a beautiful piece that only Shinnou can make.
Hozan Nagura
- Price Range
- $5,000 or more
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.
Michiko Sugiura
- Price Range
- $2,000 - 4,000
Exquisite deformations that people can relate to
Doll artist, Sugiura, aims to make dolls that people can relate to and those that match the modern living space. She says, "I always try to make my dolls easy to understand by exaggerating and simplifying the form, yet not making them abstract. This is how to 'make human forms into dolls'." You can feel liveliness from the figure of her dolls and be charmed with the dolls' friendly faces. To create a gentle texture and express delicate nuances, carefully selected traditional Japanese paper is used for the face. Although Sugiura started making dolls as a hobby, she has received several craft awards throughout the years, and her performance as a doll artist is outstanding.
Zenzo Fukushima
"Challenging tradition" to create high artistic quality
Zenzo Fukushima is a Living National Treasure for "Koishiwara ware" which was praised as "the extreme of the beauty of use" by art critic Muneyoshi Yanagi. He received the Grand Award at the Japan Ceramic Art Exhibition, where the highest level ceramics in Japan gather. Usually, one would think this appraisal and status would be permanent, but Fukushima says "I will not be highly praised with the same style", and moves on, seeking new expressions. He does the whole process from making clay to firing by himself. Although he was born to the family of a Koishiwara ware kiln, he does not cling to tradition and never forgets to take on new challenges. His representative work are the bluish pieces with a milky white finish. Although he does not carve patterns which are a characteristic of Koishiwara ware, his work is praised for its beauty.
Yoshinori Tsuchiya
- Price Range
- $6,000 - 33,000
Textiles with a unique transparency created by using plant dyeing and hand weaving techniques
Tsuchiya creates textiles with a unique transparency, using exquisite gradation or combination of colors. As a student studying textiles, he became interested in the beautiful colors of plant dye, and started plant dyeing. He mainly produces "figured gauze" which has a feel of transparency. The designs of his textiles are based on stories, pictures and nature, and he hand weaves the threads that he dyes himself. The textiles that take a long time to weave are like dragonfly wings. Tsuchiya has received several traditional craft awards as well as the Medal with Purple Ribbon, which is a medal awarded to people who are recognized for achievements in the art field.
Hayato Otani
- Price Range
- $1,000 - 33,000
Refining techniques from the Edo period in the modern world
Otani's master, Living National Treasure, Hitoshi Ota said, "Hayato Otani will become a leading artist in Kagawa Lacquerware". He has sophisticated carving skills and excels in delicate colored patterns, and he himself has been designated as National Living Treasure. He uses plants, insects, and other beautiful scenes in nature in his designs using gradations of colors. He has received many awards, and has also received the Medal with Purple Ribbon, which is a medal awarded to those who have contributed to the field of art. He exhibited his parents' house as "The Lacquer House" at a modern art festival, the Setouchi Triennale. He expressed traditional lacquerware techniques in the world of art, and has been highly commended within Japan and overseas.
Akihiro Maeta
- Price Range
- $3,000 - 21,000
A feeling of softness and tension both exist in his artwork
Akihiro Maeta, designated as Living National Treasure for white porcelain, makes his artwork based on traditional methods of ceramics, but seeks for unique forms. He always works on his pieces as if he is challenging the clay, and puts what he feels from the plain white clay into shape using the potter's wheel. His artwork that stands with a dignified look, yet at the same time has a feeling of softness, is created in this way. His artwork that expresses exactly what he feels, is highly evaluated, and is held by many art museums within Japan and abroad.