GENKAI


As soon as we made Mikado, we made another big pen with straight down shape and tried to make with size biggest possible for a hand to hold, and we call it Genkai, the limited. This pen is also uses Eye dropper system. The nib is size #8 with Mikado.

GENKAI > KOICHIRO OKAZAKI (KOGAKU)

Koichiro Okazaki. Signature: Kogaku. Title: Dento Kogei-shi. Born in 1959. He learnt Maki-e from a master and was recognized with Kao (authorized monogram) Omote School in 1991 by Kuda Munenori of Sado (Tea ceremony). His works have been accepted by the National Art Exhibition each year since then.

GK-1001

Shuten-doji is one of three famous stories related with Minamoto-no Yorimitsu (944-1021) commonly called Minamoto-no Raiko, a general of Gen-ke (Minamoto clan).
Japanese have many Oni (demon) stories, and one of the most famous stories is Shuten-doji, the drunkard red faced kid, who abducted women, robbed treasures and ate humans at Mt. Oe of Tamba. When he abducted Ikeda Chunagon’s daughter, Ikeda asked Mikado for help. Minamoto-no Raiko was ordered to kill the Oni, and the Oni was beheaded by Raiko and his followers, the Shitenno (Four Devas), Watanabe-no Tsuna, Sakata-no Kintoki, Urabe-no Suetake, and Usui-no Sadamitsu.

In day time Shuten-doji disguised himself as a drunkard kids, but he would appear with his true aspect,15 feet tall, with red head and red body, left leg in black right leg in white, left arm in blue and right arm in yellow with spots in five colors all over, and he had 15 eyes and five horns. When the Oni was beheaded, the head fell and bit Raiko’s helmet. Fortunately, Raiko’s head was protected by three helmets as he knew beforehand and borrowed the helmets from Sakata-no Kintoki as well as Watanabe-no Tsuna.

The Oni’s head were raised and Urushi was painted on it. The dimension was effectively done with different sizes, #6 and #8 of gold foils, and then #10 gold powders were heavily sprinkled followed by red Urushi painted. Two different shells were used on the eyes, and the hairs were Tsukegaki (drawing with more gold and make lines look raised) with #6 gold powder and Keuchi(Additional gold lines were drawn on the surface) with #4 gold powder.

GK-1003

GK-1005

GK-1011

GK-1012

GK-1013

GK-1014

GK-1015

GENKAI > KOICHIRO OKAZAKI (KOGAKU)

Hironobu Okazaki. Signature: Hironobu. Born in 1984. He decided to follow his father, Koichiro Okazaki to be Maki-e shi when he was still teen at middle school (7th grade - 9th grade) He entered into Ishikawa High School to major craft and art in 1999 Then he entered into Wajima Urushi Crafts Center in 2002 for another three years. Now, he is working very hard with his father since he came home from the school. That his parents and his wife are all maki-e working together in their house certainly makes other people envious.

GK-1019, Komori (Bats)

GK-1019

GENKAI > MASANORI OMOTE

Masanori Omote. Signature: Masanori. Title: Dento Kogei-shi. Born in 1938. Mr. Masanori Omote was born in 1938 and learnt from a master Yusei Nakaya when he was 15. He became a free lancer six years later. He received the title of Dento Kogei-shi in 1994 and teaches at Yamanaka Urushi Technical Center since then. He has received many official awards from the government and exhibits with his Maki-e works almost every year at major exhibitions.

There are four Maki-e artists, who are now major Maki-e artists in the circle working on our Maki-e at present, were his students before they became free lancers. His most recent works are the Maki-e on the walls in the main hall of well known Kissho-in temple in Chita City of Aichi prefecture. Omote san work Maki-e for us for more than 5 years, and his masterpieces such as Tokaido series were very well accepted. His recent remarkable works include “Fixed Stars”, “Miyama Enreiso”, “Four Seasons from Ise Monogatari” and of course “Kirin”, he will appear at the coming Washington DC Pen Show with these works. After more than 50 years on Maki-e, he is now one of the very few whose works reach to “collectible level” today.

GK-1002, Kinkakuji & Ginkakuji (The Pavillions)

GK-1002

Kinkakuji, the Golden Pavilion was built by the third Shogun of Ashikaga clan, Ashikaga Yoshimitsu in 1397 in the northeast of Kyoto. The temple was burnt down a couple of times, and the worst one was happened in 1950 when a young monk set fire on the building and reduced it to ashes. The building we see today was rebuilt in 1955 and renovated in 1987. And the story was fictionalized by Mishima Yukio in later years. The pavilion, a 3-storied temple represents three different architectural styles, Heian, Kamakura and Muromachi era. Kinkakuji is actually gilded on the second and third story with around 100 lbs of pure gold. Ginkakuji, Silver Pavilion was built by Ashikaga Yoshimasa (1436-1490), the 8th Ashikaga Shogun and grandson of Ahikaga Yoshimitsu in the late 15th century inspired by the Golden Pavilion. Yoshimasa lived in the temple and enjoyed his life holding Noh plays, tea ceremonies until he died in 1490. The temple was mostly renovated and the original look left very little after that. And yet, the temple is still very impressive with its landscaping and architecture.

GK-1020, Sumo

GK-1020

GK-1023, Shoki-ni Oni (Shoki and the Devil)

GK-1023

GK-1024, Banri-no Chojo (The Great Wall)

GK-1024

GK-1025, Toen-no Chikai (The Oath at Toen)

GK-1025

GK-1028, Shunju Soka (Flowers in Spring & Autumn)

GK-1028

GK-1029, Chikurin & Tori (Bamboo Bush and Birds)

GK-1029

GENKAI > MINORU OOHATA (RAKKAN)

Minoru Oohata. Signature: Rakkan. Title: Dento Kogei-shi. Born in 1951. He learnt Maki-e from late Kashigi Hozo, and modern art from Kakinoki Akira, and became Dento Kogei-shi in 1994. He mainly exhibits at Nihon Sogo Bijutsuten. After spending eight years traveling the world to see different types of arts, his enthusiasm for Urushi art was renewed in the end, and he has stayed in Wajima until today.

GK-1004, Shakkyo (The Stone Bridge from a Noh Play)

GK-1004

GK-1008, Chushingura, 47 Ronin

GK-1008

GK-1009, Karajishi (Imagenary Lion)

GK-1009

GK-1016, Banri-no Chojo (The Great Wall)

GK-1016

GENKAI > TATSUYA TODO

Tatsuya Todo. Signature: Kosetsu. Born in 1954. 1973 Learnt from Urushi master, Kiichi Ikeda in Kanazawa 1976 Learnt from Maki-e master Masanori Omote 1990 Began to exhibit at Japan Traditional Urushi Craft Exhibtion and exhibited every year for 8 years 1991 Began to exhibit at Ishikawa Traditional Urushi craft Exhibition and exhibited every year for 8 years also. 1995 He was recognized as a Dento Kogei-shi by the Japanese government. His works were highly recognized and accepted by many other major exhibitions since 1995 until today.

GK-1026, Rokkaku Monyo (Hexagon Pattern)

GK-1026

GK-1030, Himawari to Cho (Sun Flower & Butterfly)

GK-1030

GK-1035, Kuzunoha Kitsune (Fox named Kuzunoha)

GK-1035
Model MSRP In U.S. Limited Artist GK-1026, Rokkaku Monyo (Hexagon Pattern) $16,000.00 18 Kosetsu GK-1030, Himawari to Cho (Sun Flower & Butterfly) $17,000.00 18 Kosetsu GK-1035, Kuzunoha Kitsune (Fox named Kuzunoha) $18,000.00 18 Kosetsu

GENKAI > YUJI OOKADO (YUJI)

Yuji Ookado. Signature: Yuji. Title: Dento Kogei-shi. Born in 1961. He learnt Maki-e from Master Tetsugoro Tetsuya when he was 19 and studied Urushi with Urushi master Nenshu Okado five years later. His works have been accepted by The Japanese Traditional Art Exhibition each year since 1992.

GK-1006, Tsuru-Kame, Crane & Tortoise

GK-1006

GK-1007, Ni-O, Door Gods

GK-1007

GK-1017, Musashi (Miyamoto Musashi)

GK-1017

GK-1018, Saiyuki (The Journey to the West)

GK-1018

GK-1022, Katamigawari

GK-1022

GENKAI > MAYUMI KUMANO

	Mayumi Kumano. Signature: Mayumi. Born in 1965. Learnt from her father, master Sadahisa Kumanoin Wajima, and receive awards at exhibitionseach year since 1995.

GK-1021, Katamigawari (Spring & Winter)

GK-1021

GK-1027, Beauty in the Snow

GK-1027

GK-1034, Four Seasons

GK-1034

GENKAI >MASAYUKI HARIA (YUHAKU)

	Masayuki Haria. Signature: Yuhaku Title: Dento Kogai-shi. Born in 1954. He learnt from master Kasei Yoshida, A Maki-e artist of tea sets mainly used for the tea ceremony in 1977, and he has participaqted in exhibitons each year since 1990, and he Maki-e for us since 2001.

GK-1010, Uraraka (Mild and Beautiful)

GK-1010

GENKAI > KATSUHIRO (KATSUHIRO NISHI)

Chikin artist, Mr. Katsuhiro Nishi (1955) lives in Wajima as an excellent artist for more than 38 years now.  We are very fortunate to have him join us to contribute to the art since ten years ago, and we can see his works at Shitsugei Dento Kogeiten, Traditional Urushi Craft Exhibition every year.  He was already appointed to be a “Tokutaisha”, very high honored position at the Traditional Urushi Art Craft Association widely regarded as the most hopeful candidate to be the next National Treasure of Chinkin appointed by the Japanese government. We were fortunately met him in Wajima and discussed with him on Chinkin art and he promised to support us with his talent and hard work on Chinkin.

GK-1031

Kenji Yamamoto. Signature: Kenji. Title: Member of Gendai Kogei Bijutsu Kyokai. (Modern Craft Art Association) Born in 1964. He started painting when he was only 7, and he began to work on oil paintings a few years later. His oil paintings to Maki-e by following his parents' advice at age 15. He is the only one among our Maki-e artists that works on pieces for the direction of "art for art's sake" and his Maki-e works have been accepted by Nitten each year since 1995 and his achievement to be a member of Gendai Kogei Bijutsu Kyokai, a major organization of artists in Japan was a great one at his age of only 38, five years ago.

GK-1032, Totetsu

GK-1032

GK-1033, Totetsu

GK-1033