Tamotsu Hannya

  • Metalwork
  • 1941 -
Tamotsu Hannya

I received the MEXT Award at the Japan Traditional Kogei Exhibition in 1977 and have been producing pieces using the fukiwake casting method ever since this first award. I received the Japan Kogei Association President Award in 1993. To create a vivid contrast of the black and gold colors, I invented a way of pouring in melted copper and brass alternately from three different pouring gates. In order to establish this method, it took me years of testing the angle of the molds.
Recently, I am making pieces using the fukiwake casting method and insert molding method where the parts of the vessel are casted separately and inserted and attached by pouring in melted metal. By combining these two methods, I can create unique, elaborate designs.

Membership Full member, Japan Kogei Association
Traditional Craftsman designated by the Traditional Crafts Industry Promotion Association Foundation
Member of the Metal Casting Artists and Craftperson Association of Japan
First Grade Certified Specialist of Casting, Committee Member of Proficiency Measurement
  • 1941 Born in Takaoka City. Sokan and Kankei are his brothers.
  • 1959 Started to work on sougata (loam mold casting) under his father Yokichi
    Learns the sougata casting techniques from his father Yokichi, and elder brothers Soukan and Kankei
  • 1964 Learns the sougata, heraoshi (creating patterns by pressing the mold with a spatula), hikigata and henkei (form changing) techniques from metalworker Giichi Nakamura
  • 1975 Selected for the 5th Metalworks Traditional Kōgei Exhibition for the first time (selected several times from this year onward)
  • 1979 Lecturer at Toyama Skill Development Center (current Polytechnic Center) (–1985)
  • 1995 "Flower Vessel Cast in Two Different Metals" presented to the Imperial Household Agency
  • 1997 Received the Takaoka Citizen Cultural Award
  • 2004 Designated as Traditional Craftsman for sougata casting by the Association for the Promotion of Traditional Craft Industries
    Designated as holder of traditional craft industry (sougata casting) of Takaoka city
  • 2014 Participated in "The Best of Toyama Kogei Art and Design" PR Exhibition in New York
  • 2015 Awarded as Takaoka City Citizen of Merit
  • 2016 Dedicated "Large Bud Vase" to Yakushiji Temple, Nara
    Received The Order of the Sacred Treasure, Silver Rays
  • 2018 Director of the Japan Kōgei Association (– 2022)
    Manager of the Japan Kōgei Association Toyama Branch (– 2022)

  • 1977Received the MEXT Award at the 24th Japan Traditional Kōgei Exhibition (Collection of The National Museum of Modern Art)(Selected several times from this year onward)
  • 1983Received the Grand Prize and Minister of International Trade and Industry Award at the 3rd Youth Traditional Kōgei Exhibition
  • 1992Received the Tokyo Metropolitan Board of Education Award at the 22nd Metalworks Traditional Kōgei Exhibition
  • 1993Received the Japan Kogei Association President Award at the 40th Japan Traditional Kōgei Exhibition
  • 1994Received the 3rd Katori Masahiko Award
  • 2001Received the Japan Kōgei Association Chairman's Award at the 31st Metalworks Traditional Kōgei Exhibition
  • 2009Received the Grand Prize at the 5th Sano Renaissance Metal-Casting Exhibition

  • National Crafts Museum "Fukiwake Plate" (produced in 1977)
  • Takaoka Art Museum ”Fukiwake Flower Vase" (produced in 1993)
  • The Metropolitan Museum of Art "Round Fukiwake Flower Vase" (produced in 2016)

Price Range

$ 6,000 - 27,000

The prices of the artworks on Gallery Japan are determined by the artists themselves and are published directly on the website.

29 artworks posted