Taizo Kobayashi /Kahori Maki

Taizo Kobayashi /Kagura mask artist

Born in 1980 in Shimane Prefecture.

He learned the technique of Iwami Kagura masks, a traditional craft of Shimane Prefecture, at the age of 11, and established Kobayashi Kobo Co. While mainly producing, repairing, and restoring Iwami Kagura masks, in recent years he has been producing "Japanese paper relief works" utilizing the unique "Dakkatsu-ho" technique of Iwami Kagura masks, and decorating Japanese inns and hotels.

 

Kahori Maki / Graphic artist based in Tokyo

Drawing flowers, plants, and creatures from imagination, Kahori Maki transforms a single picture into products, videos, and scenography.
On top of her own creative pursuits, she has also collaborated with many brands such as Philip Morris, Descente, Apple, and Adobe Systems, working back and forth between analogue and digital methods.

She studied at The Art Students League of New York after graduating from the Department of Design, Nihon University College of Art.

 

The god of path opening. He is said to have led Ninigi no Mikoto , who was commanded by Amaterasu, to Takachiho during the "descent of the grandchildren" in Japanese mythology. He is over 2 meters tall with a very distinctive appearance, with a large nose and red burning eyes. He is also famous as a god of marriage because he later married Ama-no-Ukemikoto, whom he met during the "descent of Ama-no-Mikoto". He is a very popular deity enshrined in about 2,000 shrines throughout Japan. The clouds around the face of Sarutahiko are the quintessential curves and undulations of Kagura mask artist Kobayashi, and are reminiscent of the world to which he will lead us. The clouds are painted in seven colors and the red face is illuminated with golden light, foreshadowing a strong and glorious world. This aspect brings strong power to open the door to what is to come.

Shimane Prefecture consists of the three regions of Izumo, Iwami, and Oki, and is famous as the place where the gods gather in Japan. Every year in October of the lunar calendar, the gods from all over Japan gather in Izumo, and this month is also called “Kamiaritsuki",  and shrines throughout the prefecture dedicate "Kagura" performances.

The Iwami Kagura of the Iwami region has developed into a performing art that is enjoyed by all, and has attracted audiences in Japan and abroad.

The people of Iwami love Iwami Kagura so much that it has become an integral part of their daily lives, with the custom of displaying a kagura mask on their front door even today.