Profile of Keiun Komori

5th generation Keiun Komori

5th generation Keiun Komori
1981 Born in Kashima city, Saga prefecture
1996 Entered Saga Prefectural Saga Kita Senior High School
Art department, subject Art
1999 Entered Aichi University of Education, Comprehensive variant department
2003
- 2007		 Taught art in public junior high schools
2007 Apprentice to 4th generation Keiun (father).
2010 Held a personal exhibition at Saga Tamaya
2012 Held the 2nd personal exhibition at Saga Tamaya

Visited local nursery schools to teach and convey the pleasures of art and is asked to teach at a local junior high school several times a year.

Awards

1991 Prefectural Governor Award at the 12th Saga Prefecture Child and Student Wood Working Competition
1992 Prefectural Governor Award at the 13th Saga Prefecture Child and Student Wood Working Competition
1993 Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Award at the 17th National Child and Student Wood Working Competition
1993 Prefectural Governor Award at the 14th Saga Prefecture Child and Student Wood Working Competition
1997 Selected for the 80th Saga Prefecture Art Federation's exhibition, Western painting section.
1997 Selected for the 47th Saga Prefectural Museum Exhibition, Wood Carving section.
1998 Selected for the 81st Saga Prefecture Art Federation's exhibition, Western painting section.
1998 Selected for the 81st Saga Prefecture Art Federation's exhibition, Wood Carving section.
1998 Selected for the 48th Saga Prefectural Museum Exhibition, Wood Carving section.
2000 Selected for the 50th Saga Prefectural Museum Exhibition, Wood Carving section.
2000 Selected for the 6th K Exhibition, Western painting section
2002 Selected for the 85th Saga Prefecture Art Federation's exhibition, Wood Carving section.
2003 Selected for the 53rd Saga Prefectural Museum Exhibition, Wood Carving section.
2004 Selected for the 54th Saga Prefectural Museum Exhibition, Wood Carving section.

Selected for more of the prefecture's exhibitions even now.

4th generation Keiun Komori

4th generation Keiun Komori
1951 Born in Kashima city, Saga prefecture
1970 Apprentice to 3rd generation Keiun (Father) Learned about shrines, traditional masks, temples and Buddhist statue engraving
1975 Opened a workshop in Kashima city. Started creating traditional crafts.
1980 Named the method of using burned cedar – "Kashima Itto carving". Participated in the competition of National Folk Craft.
1981 Recognized as a recommended product for National tourism folk craft.
1985 Taught wood carving at the Saga Shimbun Culture Seminar (1985-1997)
1987 Displayed a Mutsugorou wood carving called 'Goggle-eyed goby' as Saga's representative exhibit when Emperor Showa came to Saga. Displayed Furyu masks at Saga Prefectural Museum of Forest Culture exhibition. Held twin exhibitions at Saga Tamaya gallery.
1988 Held twin exhibitions at Saga Tamaya gallery.
1989 Held twin exhibitions at Saga Tamaya gallery.
1990 Succeeded the 4th generation of Keiun.
1996 Gave a Furyu mask as a souvenir to Mr. Zico who was a famous Brazilian soccer player.
1998 Kiko, Princess Akishino bought a Mutsugorou wood carving. Held a one-man exhibition at Saga Prefecture Industrial Promotion Center Gallery.
2002 Recognized as a Saga Master (wood carver Keiun Komori) Recognized as a Saga Master of an official workshop (Sugicho)
2003 Specified Furyu mask workshop. Being a teacher of making Furyu masks
2006 Selected to The 13th National Wood Carving Folk Art
2012 Selected to Japanese Traditional Crafts Exhibition.
2015 Received the certification of Forest Expert

Selected to host many exhibitions in Saga and Saga Prefecture Art Federation's exhibition.
Mr. Komori is now giving lectures about the traditional culture and demonstrating how to make the masks at the local schools

Major work at Sugicho

  • Making Furyu masks
  • Making Buddha statue sculpture
  • Making plates for Saga beef
  • Zodiac wood carving
  • Making Seasonal festival goods
  • Making iPhone cases, smartphone cases and related products.
  • Wish and praying goods for Yutoku Inari Shrine
  • Hina doll exhibition (every February)

Events

  • Opened a temporary shop elsewhere in Japan
  • Held an exhibition every July in Saga Tamaya

Media exposure