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Sofu Katsushiro was recognized as Human National Treasure on July, 2005.
As a bamboo artist, he is the 5th recognition in Japan, followed by Shono Shounsai (1967), Iizuka Shoukansai (1982), Maeda Chikuhousai 2nd (1995), Hayakawa Shokosai 5th(2003).
Essay by Mami Ooguchi:
In May this year, in favor of Mr. Katsushiro, I was able to visit his home in Ootawara city of Tochigi prefecture to see many of his works and fortunately to talk about many things with him. I would like to write a little about this.
Mr. Katsushiro Soho was born on February 23rd, 1934 in Kuroiso city (Nasushiobara-city) of Tochigi prefecture. After he learned the basic skills from bamboo artists, Yagisawa Keizo and Saito --, he teached himself the advanced traditional techniques. Furthermore, he invented new weaving techniques, such as "Nadeshiko (Yose-ami)" and "Kikyo (Yose-ami)" and uses them to make works with contemporary features in them.
After he has been accepted for the 7th New Works of Traditional Articraft Exhibition, he has been accepted to many articraft exhibitions every year and has been awarded many prizes. He has also been awarded the "Shijyuhosho", an award given to one who has made considerable achievement in regard to his/her invention, improvement, and creation in science and art.
His family work is farming, and lives in an invironment surrounded by rice fields and farm fields and the green mountains. From the invironment he lives in, his works show the grand blessing or the instant glitter of nature, where you can feel the atmosphere of sublimity beyond human knowledge. There are works named after the inspiration of nature, such as "Sazanami (rippling waves)", "Keiryu (mountain stream)", "Semishigure (chorus of cicadas)", or "Akatsukigumo (clouds of dawn)".
Mr.Katsushiro is a natural, spontaneous man, who speaks calmly with a Tochigi intonation. But once it comes to his works, he tackles with a spirit of challeng. He says that he is always trying to invent a new way of weaving to express his image in himself. The beauty of Japanese baskets are in the lines of bamboos, when they are made most use of it and the play in it -- this is what his philosophy of making baskets is based on. He does not intend to show detailed techniques, but to express his idea into image unrestricted from the whole wor! k itself. He says that he has enjoyed working with each of his works. It came to me that it would be a good idea for young people to make contact with his constructive spirit of working.
It was a heartwarming to see Mr.Katsushiro's grandchildren come by to say hello politely, as they came home from school. His composure behind his works seems to come from his loved family and his loved wife.
I would like to congratulate sincerely to Mr.Katsushiro's recognition of Human National Treasure.
Moreover, Hanabako has been given an opportunity to exhibit Mr. Katsushiro's works at the tea room of Hatayama Memorial on October 15th and 16th. Please take a chance to come see this exhibition.
September 1st, 2005
Hanabako, Mami Ooguchi
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