Mr. Ritsuzan Tomita (A Chinkin* Shokunin*)

Mr. Ristuzan Tomita

Mr. Ristuzan Tomita studied under and mastered chinkin technique at from Mr. Yusai Maho, an artist of Nitten (The Japan Fine Arts Exhibition, the most popular of all Japanese art organizations), in 1969. He became independent from Yusai Maho and changed his name to Ritsuzan in 1973. However, he recognized the importance of the design skill so he studied under Mr. Goichi Mitani, another Nitten artist who has made significant advancements to the Wajima-nuri style. Afterward, his works received numerous awards at the Nitten Exhibition and the Japanese Contemporary Art and Crafts Exhibition as well as others.

*chinkin - A technique or design that gold (today other metaric powder is also used) power is embedded in gaps of a carved design on lacquerware.
*shokunin - A craftsman or an artisan

Mr. Naganobu Komamoto (A Makie* Shokunin)

Mr. Naganobu Komamoto

Naganobu Komamoto was born in Fukui Prefecture in 1943. After he graduated from Meijo University, he married a woman from Komamoto and took over their family business of artisan lacquerware. He started to learn the makie technique from Mr. Rikizan Komamoto, his father-in-law. In 1973, he entered his work at the Echizen Lacquerware Exhibit for the first time, and received the president’s award for the best lacuqerware. Afterward, he pursued and mastered a new lacquerware technique called shishiai-makie* from Mr. Seigetu Kato. This style of decoration and skill has become one of his specialties in the art of lacquerware.

*makie - A technique or design that applies gold (today other metaric powder is also used) gilt or powder on design that is painted with urushi lacquer on lacquerware.
*shishiai-makie - The technique or design displays emboss and flat designs on the lacquerware surface. It is required two high lacquerware decoration skills, which called taka-makie (emboss) and togidashi-makie (flat).

Ms. Kiyomi Tomita (A Makie Shokunin)

Ms. Kiyomi Tomita

Ms. Kiyomi Tomita was taught makie technique by her father, Sho Tomita who was a　makie Shokunin. She started her career at the age of 20 and has designed lacquerware for over 28 years. A female Shokunin is rarely found in this industry and she represents future prospect for other female shokunins. Her design style reflects a more feminine character than her male counterpart.