Living National Treasure Ryoko Murakami

  • Textiles
  • 1949 -
Ryoko Murakami

Producing textiles with translucent colors created by traditional dyeing techniques using plant dye and making the most of the texture of tsumugi weave. She makes kimonos with original designs by combining tsuzureori (using weft with different colors) and kasuri techniques. The innovative designs are based on the vital power and scenes of nature, using symbolic expressions and beautiful colors.

Membership Full member, Japan Kogei Association
Status Living National Treasure (Important Intangible Cultural Property for Tsumugi silk )
  • 1949 Born in Akita Prefecture
  • 1977 Studied under Fukumi Shimura, Holder of Important Intangible Cultural Property
  • 1999 Submitted to 100 Selections of Contemporary Japanese Craft Exhibition (Paris)
  • 2002 "Ryoko Murakami Textiles Exhibition" (Ginza Wako Hall)
  • 2004 Evaluator at the 51st Japan Traditional Kōgei Exhibition (Held the post to date)
  • 2007 Submitted to "Crafting Beauty in Modern Japan:Celebrating Fifty Years of the Japan Traditional Art Crafts Exhibition" (British Museum, UK)
    Received the Medal with Purple Ribbon
  • 2012 Submitted to "The Elegance of Memory, Craft Arts in Modern Japan" Exhibition (Florence, Italy)
  • 2013 Submitted to "Contemporary Kōgei Styles in Japan" (Morikami Museum and Japanese Gardens, Florida, USA)
    Submitted to "From Crafts to Kōgei In Commemoration of the 60th Japan Traditional Art Crafts Exhibition" (National Museum of Modern Art, Tokyo)
  • 2016 Designated as Holder of Important Intangible Cultural Property for "Tsumugi Weave"
  • 2020 Received the Order of the Rising Sun, Gold Rays with Rosette

  • 1989Received the Tokyo Governor Award at the 36th Japan Traditional Kōgei Exhibition
  • 2002Received the Prince Takamatsu Memorial Award at the 49th Japan Traditional Kōgei Exhibition
  • 2015Received the Japan Kōgei Association Important Intangible Cultural Property Holder Award etc. at the 62nd Japan Traditional Kōgei Exhibition

  • Agency for Cultural Affairs
  • National Museum of Modern Art, Tokyo
  • National Museum of Modern Art, Kyoto
  • Jingu Art Museum (Ise)
16 artworks posted