Takashi Hamamoto

This piece was created by Takashi Hamamoto, a certified traditional craftsman of Kagawa Prefecture. Employing the sashimono technique—an intricate Japanese woodworking method that joins pieces of wood without nails—he produces letter boxes, tea utensils, paulownia wood cases, and more.

At first glance, his works may appear seamless, but beneath the surface lies a sophisticated interlocking structure composed of precisely assembled polyhedrons. Decorative inlays using kumiki (joinery patterns), polished lacquer finishes, and gold accents enhance the natural grain of the wood, revealing the deep, timeless character of each tree.

Born in 1937 in Takamatsu, Kagawa, Hamamoto studied under Tatsuji Manabe, a master sashimono craftsman, and later apprenticed with Showasai Ohno, a Living National Treasure. His technical mastery and artistic vision earned him recognition as a Traditional Craftsman of Kagawa Prefecture. Guided by his mentor’s words—“Become someone who brings out the full potential of any wood”—Hamamoto has devoted his life to understanding and working with wood. When embarking on a new piece, he may spend months simply observing the material, imagining the finished form in his mind. He reads the wood, listens to it, and draws upon its innate power to create art.

His works, crafted from a variety of tree species, showcase stunning wood grain patterns and breathtakingly intricate joinery. He has been selected for the prestigious Japan Traditional Art Crafts Exhibition a total of 23 times, among many other honors.

Kagawa’s warm climate and low rainfall have long made it ideal for quality lumber production, giving rise to a rich woodworking tradition. During the Edo period, the Matsudaira clan, rulers of the Takamatsu Domain, actively supported the development of lacquerware and woodworking as part of their patronage of tea and calligraphy arts.

Sashimono craftsmanship, especially the making of paulownia wood boxes, became highly valued for storing temple treasures and gradually entered everyday life as containers for tea sets and ceramics. Today, their refined grain and elegant luster also make them a favored choice for gift packaging.

 

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Full Member, Japan Kogei Association

•    Born in 1937, Takamatsu, Kagawa Prefecture

•    Apprenticed under sashimono craftsman Tatsuji Manabe

•    Studied under Living National Treasure Showasai Ohno

•    Selected 23 times for the Japan Traditional Art Crafts Exhibition

•    Selected 9 times for the Japan Traditional Wood and Bamboo Art Exhibition

•    Exhibited consecutively 30 times at the Kagawa Prefectural Art Exhibition

•    Recipient of the Kagawa Board of Education Encouragement Award (twice)

•    Recipient of the Kagawa Art Exhibition Chairman's Award

•    Recipient of the Isoi Nyoshin Prize and seven other awards at the Japan Kogei Association Shikoku Exhibition

•    Examiner and special honoree at the Japan Kogei Association Shikoku Exhibition

•    Certified Traditional Craftsman of Kagawa

•    Honored for Distinguished Service in Traditional Industrial Arts by Kagawa Prefecture