Yasuhiro Asai

1983 Born in Tottori Prefecture

2004 Graduated from National Takaoka National College, Department of Industrial Design, Lacquer Craft Course

2007 Became independent.

2012 Awarded "Japan Crafts Association Newcomer Prize" at the 59th Japan Traditional Lacquer Craft Exhibition.

2015 Awarded the Commissioner for Cultural Affairs Award at the 32nd Japan Traditional Lacquer Art Exhibition.

2021 Awarded "Kyoto Newspaper Prize" at the 50th Japan Traditional Crafts Kinki Exhibition.

2023 "Maki-e Raden Incense Burner ~Saiko~" adopted as the label design for Italian Winery MASI

 

The stars twinkle as if they are pouring down from the endless jet blackness.

Each of the stars is filled with rich colors and emits a never-ending twinkle.

The light delivered from the almost absorbing jet-black universe is an expression of Asai's finely honed technique.

Asai says that he exists to bring the beauty of lacquer to the world and to the future. However, even in the act of seemingly erasing the self, something certain exudes from the work.

Lacquer art refers to the technique of creating works of art by applying the sap from the lacquer tree to the surface or by drawing patterns on the surface.

Raden refers to a decorative technique in which shell fragments are applied to the wood or lacquer surface of a vessel or object.

Shellfish used in raden include the yakogai, white-lipped mussels, black-lipped mussels, and abalone.

 

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2012 Awarded "Japan Crafts Association Newcomer Prize" at the 59th Japan Traditional Crafts Exhibition

2015 Awarded the Commissioner for Cultural Affairs Award at the 32nd Japan Traditional Lacquer Art Exhibition.

Awarded the Kyoto Newspaper Prize at the 50th Japan Traditional Crafts Kinki Exhibition in 2021.　

Member of the Society for the History of Lacquer Art

 

Member of the Japan Association of Lacquer Cultural Properties

Member of the Japan Crafts Association