Living National Treasure Kazumi Murose

  • Lacquerware
  • 1950 -
Kazumi Murose

MUROSE has mastered various maki-e techniques such as togidashi-maki-e or takamaki-e to an exceptionally high degree, and with his perfect command of extensive and fine maki-e techniques he creates highly-rated works of great refinement and presence (taken from a review at the time of his acknowledgement as a holder of intangible cultural property). His works are characterized by a contemporary maki-e style incorporating colors into the conventional classic gold and black monotone.

Membership Full member, Japan Kogei Association
Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors of Japan Kōgei Association
Status Living National Treasure (Important Intangible Cultural Property for Maki-e )
  • 1950 Born in Tokyo
  • 1976 Completed the Urushi Art Course at Tokyo University of the Arts, Graduate
    School of Fine Arts, completion work purchased by the university
  • 1996 Produced replica of National Treasure “Ume Maki-e Tebako” in the possession of the Great Shrine of Mishima (Shizuoka) (– 1998)
  • 2007 Produced replica of Important Cultural Property “Shu-urushi Shippo Chinkin Kacho Urushie Ukufuan” in the possession of the Tokugawa Art Museum (– 2012)
  • 2008 Designated as Holder of Important Intangible Cultural Property (Living National Treasure) for “Makie”
    Received the Medal with Purple Ribbon
  • 2017 Produced lacquered doors for the MOA Museum of Art main entrance
  • 2019 Special Exhibition “Kazumi Murose Living National Treasure” at MOA Museum of Art
  • 2020 Submitted to “Kōgei 2020 - The Art of Crafting Beauty from Nature” held at Tokyo National Museum, Hyokeikan
  • 2021 Received the Order of the Rising Sun, Gold Rays with Rosette
  • Solo Exhibitions 9 times at Ikebukuro Seibu, Takanawakai (Seibu Department Store), Nihombashi Mitsukoshi, Ginza Wako etc.

  • 1985Received the Japan Kogei Association Award at the 2nd Lacquerware Traditional Kōgei Exhibition
    Received the Japan Kogei Association Incentive Award at the 32nd Japan Traditional Kōgei Exhibition
  • 2000Received the Tokyo Governor Award at the 47th Japan Traditional Kōgei Exhibition
  • 2002Received the Japan Kogei Association Incentive Award at the 49th Japan Traditional Kōgei Exhibition
  • 2006Received the Japan Arts Promotion Award (sponsored by the Japan Arts Foundation)

  • Agency for Cultural Affairs, Tokyo University of the Arts, National Crafts Museum, MOA Museum of Art, The Metropolitan Museum of Art (New York), Victoria and Albert Museum (London), The British Museum (London) etc.
35 artworks posted