Japan's traditional kōgei crafts are always best explored in context, but sometimes that context is hard to come by, requiring the dedicated devotee to travel the length and breadth of Japan to grasp the great shifts in style that exist by region, which does much to help spot the intense subtleties within areas. Mindful of this, Nihombashi Mitsukoshi invites you our annual celebration of East Japan kōgei that takes in the best of Kanto koshinetsu, up through Tohoku and into Hokkaido, that breaks down the monolith idea of their being a singular Japanese aesthetic, highlighting the difference in arts throughout Japan, and guiding you to the diversity the East of the country holds.
The exhibition takes in 351 works over seven categories of kōgei through a notoriously difficult selection process, encompassing artists granted Holder of Important Intangible Cultural Property (Living National Treasure) status by the Japanese government, a singular honour only given to those at the very peak of their art whose very skills are deemed worthy of preservation in a similar way to landmarks or the masterpieces they produce. Whether you want to see the very best in East Japan's lacquer, ceramics, metalwork, dolls, or kimono, there is perhaps no better opportunity to see it all in one place.
As you explore the exhibition keep in mind that you are also seeing the different lives of people in each different region; a certain kind of glaze or clay might be unique to the mines of the area, the colour palette of a kimono bound to local custom, a scene or subject no simple postcard cliche, but rather representative of the endless diversity Japan holds. So use this as your gateway to the culture of East Japan, and make this an annual tradition to uphold in your own diary.
Top photo:
*Tokyo Metropolitan Governor Prize / Backless enamel vessel, "Yellow Leaves" Yukiko Tanezawa
Photos from left:
*Governor of Iwate Prize / Varied applying lacquer box, "Mille-feuille" Masato Kimura
*Asahi Shinbun Prize / Ceramics "girar - Turn" Kaori Masuhara
*Nihon Kogei Kai (Japanese Kogei Association) Prize / Chinkin Gosu (gold inlayed to the cut designs on natural-lacquer surface) "Chokai Marimo" Chizuru Kon
The 56th Exhibition of East Japan Traditional Kōgei
Dates
April 20th - 25th, 2016
Location
Nihombashi Mitsukoshi Main Store Annex 7F, Gallery
Free Entry