Shinkyo Nakamura

  • Dolls
  • 1957 -
Shinkyo Nakamura

As there is always a story behind the world of dolls, I would like people to feel the story when they see the dolls. As people's wishes are put into the shape of a doll, it is easy to pass on your wishes to your children or grandchildren with a doll rather than trying to say in words.

Membership Full member, Japan Kogei Association
Holder of Intangible Cultural Property of Fukuoka Prefecture
Visiting Professor at Museum of Kyushu Sangyo University
Director of the Japan Kōgei Association
Chairman of the Japan Kōgei Association Doll Department
Vice Secretary General of the Japan Kōgei Association West Japan Branch
Director of the Japan International Doll and Toy Research Association
Councilor of Imaemon Museum of Ceramic Antiques
Director of Dazaifu Kanshokai (Dazaifu Tenmangu)
Instructor and Manager of Hakataori Development College
  • 1957 Born in Fukuoka, currently residing in Fukuoka
    Studied under his father, 2nd generation doll artist Engai Nakamura, Living National Treasure Komao Hayashi, and ceramic artist Toen Murata
  • 1989 Becomes Full Member of the Japan Kōgei Association
  • 1998 Evaluator at the Dolls Traditional Kōgei Exhibition ('02, '08, '13)
  • 2001 Judge at the Japan Traditional Kōgei Exhibition ('08, '11, '13)
  • 2003 Selected for the Japan Traditional Kōgei 50th Anniversary Exhibition “Crafting Beauty in Modern Japan"
  • 2010 Invited to submit to the 1st Trienalle of KOGEI in Kanazawa
  • 2011 Invited to submit to “Mostra La Luce – Lo Splendore Dell’arte Giapponese Contemporanea" at the Museum of the Imperial Fora (Rome, Italy)
  • 2012 Invited to submit to "Art Crafting Towards the Future" at the 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art, Kanazawa
  • 2014 Solo Exhibition at Nihombashi Mitsukoshi
    Received the Fukuoka Governor Award for Excellent Technical Skills
  • 2015 Solo Exhibition at Fukuoka Mitsukoshi
    Submitted to "Japan Kōgei - Future Forward" Exhibition at Museum of Arts and Design (MAD), New York
  • 2016 Invited to submit to "Expressions of Warmth – Passing on the Mind and Techniques to the Next Generation) at the Jingu Museum (Ise Jingu)
  • 2017 Produced monument for the Lions Clubs International Convention in Fukuoka Airport
    Selected as one of the "100 Masterpieces of Japan" on the completion of Yakushiji Temple's Jikido and dedicated "Yakushiji Genei" to Yakushiji Temple
  • 2018 Solo Exhibition "TIME TRAVELLER" at Nihombashi Mitsukoshi
  • 2019 Presented a doll of "Nakaura Julian" (one of the twenty six Christian martyrs of Japan) to Pope Francis on his visit to Nagasaki
  • 2020 Solo exhibitions at Yokohama Takashimaya, Kyoto Takashimaya and Osaka Takashimaya
  • 2021 Awarded by the Director General of the Kyushu Bureau of Economy, Trade and Industry
  • 2022 Designated as Intangible Cultural Property of Fukuoka Prefecture

  • 1997Received the Commissioner for Cultural Affairs Award at the 15th Dolls Traditional Kōgei Exhibition
  • 1999Received the Prince Takamatsu Memorial Award at the 46th Japan Traditional Kōgei Exhibition
  • 2006Fukuoka Prefectural Cultural Award in the Creative Category
  • 2011Received the Excellence Award at the POLA Traditional Culture Award
  • 2014Received the Fukuoka City Cultural Award
  • 2021Received the Incentive Award at the 68th Japan Traditional Kōgei Exhibition

  • National Museum of Modern Art, Tokyo
  • 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art, Kanazawa
  • Museum of Modern Ceramic Art, Gifu
  • Musei Vaticani (Vatican City)
  • MOA Museum of Art (Atami, Shizuoka)
  • Museum of Kyushu Sangyo University
13 artworks posted