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.

N-160

N-161, Chidori (Plovers).The base was finished with black Urushi Roiro-migaki. The Design was completed with same technique as N-160.

N-161

N-162, Ryusui-ni Sakura (Sakura on the stream). The white part is eggshell setting by hand.

N-162

N-801, Blueberry

N-801

N-802, Arabesque

N-802

N-803, Peacock

N-803

N-804, Phoenix

N-804

N-805, Poppy

N-805

TAKUMI > HIRONOBU OKAZAKI (HIRONOBU)

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.

When a student wants to learn from a master, he or she has to work for the master only even staying at the master’s house. That when he was released by the master means that he can be independent, but what he learnt was ONLY from his master, and his works will be mostly under his master’s influence.  But a young man like Hironobu san, who graduated from two different art schools after six years probably learnt from many different masters, and then came home to work with his father, already a master, show his works are fresh, very colorful and dynamic even compare with all our collections. No wonder he already has many fans there after we introduced the following designs.

N-201, Mt. Fuji

N-201

N-202, Komori (Bats)

N-202

N-203, Chocho (Butterfly)

N-203

N-204, Frog

N-204

N-903, Shishimai (Lion Dancing)

N-903

N-904, Nobori-ryu at Fuji (Ascending Dragon at Fuji)

N-904

TAKUMI > 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.

TOKAIDO 53 STAGES

F58, Hakone is one of the most famous hot spring resort areas near Mt. Fuji. In ancient times, Hakone was famous because it was located on the most difficult mountain pass in Japan. The design on the cap is from Hiroshige's original Tokaido 53Tsugi. The design on the barrel is "Son-uno Fuji", viewing Mt. Fuji from a rainy town ( from Hokusai's original of Fugaku 36Kei).

F58

F59, Mariko (name of a place)
The design on the cap describing the early spring in Mariko, and the design on the barrel describes the winter time in Mariko, a place known for its Tororo Jiru (special yam soup)served at Chamise (tea shops) several hundred years ago. There are still many restaurants selling this soup today, and there is a place built exactly like the house on the barrel in Hiroshige's picture selling the soup. There is a temple called Saioku-ji (Saioku temple) at Togetsuho (Togetsu ridge). The name was given as Togetsu means "to puff up the moon" as if the moon is puffed up over the ridge. As depicted on the design on the barrel, the winter in Mariko is very severe and all days are dark. The journey onward from this town is another notoriously difficult pass waiting for the travelers. Both designs are from Hiroshige's originals of Tokaido 53Tsugi.

F59

F60, Kakegawa (a city in Shizuoka Prefecture)
In Japanese history, Kakegawa was rather famous for her castle. The Daimyo at the time was Yamanouchi Kazutoyo who was loyal to Tokugawa Ieyasu after the death of Toyotomi Hiyoshi in 1600. The castle was recently reconstructed, along with some ancient buildings and Buke-yashiki (Samurai's residences).

F60

F61, Sanjo Ohashi (Sanjo Bridge)
The Sanjo Bridge, built by Toyotomi Hideyoshi, was located at Third Street over Kamo River in Kyoto. If travelers went to Edo (Tokyo) from Kyoto, this bridge was the first station of their journey. A five minute walk from the west side of the bridge, there was a famous hotel called Ikedaya where the Kinno-ha (loyalists for the emperor) were wiped out by Sabaku-ha, the supporters for Shogun, Kondo Isami's Shinsen Gumi (Shinsen Team, similar to hired troops for Tokugawa Shogunate) when they had a meeting to stage a coup against the Shogunate in 1864. The clash, called Ikedaya Sodo, was the beginning of the end of the Shogunate era. The hotel was demolished long ago and there is only a monument standing at the site today. They said that the building on the site was occupied by Burger King before and now by a "Pachinkoya", a pinball house.

F61
Model MSRP In U.S. Limited Artist F58, Hakone (Name of Place) $6,800.00 30 Masanori F59, Mariko (Name of Place) $6,800.00 30 Masanori F60, Kakegawa (Name of City) $6,800.00 30 Masanori F61, Sanjo Ohashi (Sanjo Bridge) $6,800.00 30 Masanori