Hozan Nagura

  • Inkstone carving
Hozan Nagura

As stone materials I use kimpo-seki, engan-seki, and homei-seki, collected around Kadoya, and the suzuri (ink stone) made of these three types of stone are called “Horaiji Suzuri.” 

Not only do I want to improve and cultivate the techniques handed down by my predecessors, and pass them on to the next generation, but I also want to develop suzuri from a simple calligraphy utensil to a work of art as a “vessel imbued with heart” that expresses the spirit and aesthetic sense of the Japanese people. I do not want to just follow a Chinese style, rather I aim to elevate the value of suzuri toward a new cultural and artistic domain of Japanese style; with this hope, I carry out my day-to-day production.

Membership Full member, Japan Kogei Association
Holder of Cultural Property Designated by Shinshiro City, Aichi Prefecture
Director of the Japan Kōgei Association
Secretary General of the Japan Kōgei Association, Tokai Branch
Vice Secretary General of the Japan Kōgei Association, Other Crafts Department
Member of the CBC Club
  • 1953 Born in Shinshiro City (former Hourai-cho), Aichi Prefecture as the first son of 4th Generation Hozan ( Masayasu)
  • 1972 Graduated from Aichi Prefectural Asahigaoka High School, Art Course
  • 1977 Graduated from Tokyo University of the Arts, Faculty of Fine Arts, Department of Sculpture
  • 1980 Selected for the Tōkai Traditional Kōgei Exhibition (selected several times from this year onward)
  • 1981 Selected for the 28th Japan Traditional Kōgei Exhibition (selected several times from this year onward)
  • 1982 Seto Kogei Association Group Exhibition at Mitsukoshi, Nagoya. Several group exhibitions and special exhibitions from this year onward.
  • 1983 Selected for the first Other Crafts Traditional Kōgei Exhibition (selected several times from this year onward)
  • 1988 Becomes full member of the Japan Kōgei Association
  • 1992 Father and Son Exhibition with 4th Generation Hozan (Maruei Department Store, Nagoya and Toyohashi)
  • 1997 Solo Exhibition (Takashimaya, Gifu and Maruei, Nagoya)
  • 1999 Judge at the 30th Tōkai Traditional Kōgei Exhibition
    Solo Exhibition at Maruei, Nagoya
  • 2001 Judge at the 17th Other Crafts Traditional Kōgei Exhibition
  • 2002 Judge at the 18th Other Crafts Traditional Kōgei Exhibition
  • 2003 Succeeded to the name Hozan, the 5th. Solo exhibition at Maruei, Nagoya and Toyohashi
  • 2004 Evaluator at the 51st Japan Traditional Kōgei Exhibition
  • 2006 Solo Exhibitions at Maruei, Nagoya and Horaikan, Shinshiro City, Aichi
  • 2008 Specially invited to submit to the 21st Other Crafts Traditional Kōgei Exhibition
    Evaluator at the 55th Japan Traditional Kōgei Exhibition
    Solo Exhibitions at Maruei, Nagoya and Horaikan, Shinshiro City, Aichi
  • 2011 Evaluator at the 23rd Other Crafts Traditional Kōgei Exhibition
  • 2012 Solo exhibitions at Takashimaya, Nagoya and Osaka
    Evaluator at the 59th Japan Traditional Kōgei Exhibition
  • 2014 Specially invited to submit to the 61st Japan Traditional Kōgei Exhibition
  • 2016 Solo exhibitions at Takashimaya (Osaka and JR Nagoya) and Gallery Yohaku, Nagoya
    Dedicated art work to "100 Selected Treasures of the Heisei Era" (Yakushiji Temple, Nara)
  • 2017 Solo exhibition at G-WING'S Gallery, Kanazawa, Ishikawa
    "The World of Ink, The Beauty of Ink Stones" Exhibition at Furukawa Art Museum, Tamesaburo Memorial Hall, Nagoya
    "Selected Treasures of the Heisei Era" Exhibition at Yakushiji Temple, Nara
  • 2018 Solo Exhibition at Matsuzakaya, Nagoya
    Evaluator at the 65th Japan Traditional Kōgei Exhibition
  • 2019 Solo exhibitions at Takashimaya Osaka and JR Nagoya
  • 2020 Solo Exhibition at Takashimaya, Yonago
    "200 Selected Works of Japanese Calligraphers - in Commemoration of the Tokyo 2020 Olymic and Paralympic Games"Exhibition at The National Art Center, Tokyo
    "Crafts of Aichi" Exhibition at Furukawa Art Museum, Nagoya
  • 2021 Evaluator at the 68th Japan Traditional Kōgei Exhibition

  • 1990Received the Aichi Governor Award at the 21st Tōkai Traditional Kōgei Exhibition
  • 1991Received the Japan Kōgei Association Award at the 7th Other Crafts Traditional Kōgei Exhibition
  • 1995Received the Nagoya Mayor Award at the 26th Tōkai Traditional Kōgei Exhibition
  • 1996Received the Chunichi Award at the 27th Tōkai Traditional Kōgei Exhibition
  • 1997Received the Gifu Takashimaya Award at the 28th Tōkai Traditional Kōgei Exhibition
    Received the Japan Kōgei Association Incentive Award at the 44th Japan Traditional Kōgei Exhibition
    Art work purchased by the Agency for Cultural Affairs
  • 1999Recieved the 21st City Cultural Encouragement Award (Aichi)
  • 2003Received the Aichi Prefecture Arts and Culture Encouragement Award
  • 2007Received the Japan Kōgei Association Award at the 21st Other Crafts Traditional Kōgei Exhibition
  • 2013Received the Japan Kōgei Association Incentive Award at the 60th Japan Traditional Kōgei Exhibition
    Received the Area Award at the 33rd Pola Award for Traditional Japanese Culture

  • Tokyo National Museum
  • Yakushiji Temple, Nara
  • Silkroad Museum, Hamamatsu

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17 artworks posted