First genaration HYOETSU
( Name: Noburu)
1879
Born in Maruoka, Fukui Prefecture
1891
He relied on his older brother, Hashiguchi HYOTETSU (1st), who was studying in Kyoto
Became a disciple of Kimura HYOUSAI (2nd)
He trained while becoming friends with Suzuki HYOUSAKU and others.
1906
Founded in Horikawa Rokkaku, Kyoto
1911
Third Prize, New and Antique Fine Art Exhibition
1912
Second Prize, New and Antique Fine Art ExhibitionFirst Prize, Youth Lacquerware Competition
1913
Third Prize, New and Antique Fine Art Exhibition
1914
Third Prize, Agricultural Exhibition (Collaboration with Mukaida Shuetsu)
1915
Bronze Prize, Kyoto Expo Commemorating the Enthronement of Emperor Akihito
Certificate of Commendation, Agricultural Exhibition
(Designed by Otsu Seika, Collaboration with Sasaki Tokusai)
1916
Certificate of commendation from the Agricultural Exhibition
(Designed by Otsu Seika, Makie by Yoshida Heizo, Metalwork by Furuichi Unosuke, Omote Etsu-nuri)
1919
Member of Katsumi Village (renamed)
1920
Exhibited at the Prince Shotoku Celebration Exhibition (Tokyo)
1922
Exhibited at the Kyoto Lacquerware Association
1924
Member of the Kyoto Art and Crafts Exhibition (renamed Katsumi Village)
1925
Certificate of commendation from the Paris World's Fair Decorative Arts Exhibition
1926
Exhibited at the First Crafts and Arts Exhibition
Committee member of the Prince Shotoku Celebration Exhibition
Exhibited at the Bikoin Exhibition (member)
1930
Member of the Kinki Lacquer Association
Exhibited at the Prince Shotoku Celebration Exhibition
1935
Member of the Kyoto Lacquer Association
1937
Juror at the Kyoto City Art Exhibition
1942
Counselor at the Kyoto City Exhibition
1949
Collapsed due to cerebrovascular disease. Died at home two weeks later
Second generation HYOETSU（Houkousai)
(Real name: Teizo)
1910
Born in Kyoto (Kato family).
Brother of Kyoto lacquer artist Masayoshi Tsukamoto.
Adopted into the Miki family, to whom his aunt married.
Started training upon graduating from elementary school.
1930
Awarded at the Bikoin Exhibition and selected for the Shoko Exhibition.
1931
Selected for the Shoko Exhibition.
1932
Selected for the Shoko Exhibition and awarded at the Kyoto Crafts and Fine Arts Academy Exhibition.
1933
Submitted to the Kyoto Crafts and Fine Arts Association Exhibition without being judged.
1934
Exhibited at the Ryukeiha Crafts Exhibition
1936
Member of the Kyoto Lacquerware Association
1937
Silver Medal at the Paris World Exposition
1938
Awarded at the Kobi Exhibition
Awarded at the Kinki Regional Crafts Exhibition
1949
Took the name Omote Etsu
1955
Exhibited at the Second Japan Traditional Crafts Exhibition
1980
Published "Collection of Works by Three Generations of Miki Omote Etsu and Hisanobu" to commemorate his 70th birthday
1984
Received the Kyoto Prefecture Cultural Merit Award
Selected for the Teiten Exhibition, Japan Traditional Crafts Exhibition, Kyoto City Exhibition, and Kobi Exhibition
Several solo exhibitions
His wife passed away from tuberculosis soon after the war, and he himself battled what was diagnosed as pulmonary infiltration (an early symptom of tuberculosis). As he recovered, he made a fresh start as a lacquerware artist.
His own notes reveal that he created works exhibited at the 2nd Japan Traditional Crafts Exhibition and other exhibitions in collaboration with Hisanobu (Sanpei Etsu). He was not in good health, but we can still remember him sitting in his workshop, steadily working on lacquerware until his mid-90s. His experience of battling illness after the war taught him to take good care of himself, and he lived to the ripe old age of 102.
(Keiraku's notes)
Third generation HYOETSU (HYOENSAI)
(Real name: Hisanobu)
1936
Born as the eldest son of Nissho Etsu
1955
Graduated from Hiyoshigaoka High School's Lacquerware Department
1960
Graduated from Kyoto City University of Arts' Graduate School of Painting
While enrolled in graduate school, was selected for the Japan Traditional Crafts Exhibition/Kyoto Exhibition
1963
Founded the Pan Craft Association with Kunikata Yoshichika and others, combining various craft genres such as pottery and glass. Subsequently held exhibitions around the country
1964-1966
Part-time lacquerware teacher at Hiyoshigaoka High School
Subsequently, taking advantage of the durability of lacquer,
Worked on creating interior decorations for ships
1969
Interior decorations for the Tokyo Maru
1972
Interior decoration of the Sakura Maru international trade fair ship
1974
Interior decoration of a Ministry of International Trade and Industry geological survey vessel
He also created numerous other lacquer murals, which were installed on ships sailing around the world.
2020
He entrusted the name Omote Etsu to Keiraku and began creating under the new pseudonym Omote Ensai.
Member of the Kyoto Prefectural Craft Artists Association
Awarded at the Kobi Exhibition and selected for the Japan Traditional Crafts Exhibition and the Kyoto Exhibition
He also participated in the founding of the Sencha Crafts Association with Nidai and served as a director and judge for many years.
Public Collections
Kyoto National Museum of Modern Art, Kyoto, Kyoto Prefectural Museum of Art, Kyoto Municipal Museum of Art, Kyoto City University of Arts, Chushin Museum of Art, and others.
Based on his work as a lacquer artist, he mastered maki-e and urushi-e, broadening his range of expression.
He also developed an interest in lymphatic art, recognizing the importance of Japanese design and is renowned for his works that reflect the artist's boldness, atmosphere, and personal touch.
"Those who inherit the work of generations should be conscious of the unifying principle of carrying the same family name, while at the same time each generation should have a clearly recognizable characteristic and stand out as individuals in their craftsmanship." I was often told this when I was little, and now I think that this is what my father himself was telling himself in his youth.
After graduating from the lacquerware department of Hiyoshigaoka High School, he was mentored by Mizuuchi Kyohei, and then at the painting department of Kyoto City University of Arts, he was taught by Hiradate Shu.
He also likes to say that the instruction he received in stencil dyeing from dyeing expert Inagaki Toshijiro and others during exchange studies was a great asset that continues to this day, even as the third generation, in his current production style.
(Keiraku)
4th HYOETSU(KEIRAKU)
(Real name: Keigo)
1971
Born in Kyoto as the eldest son of the third president, Etsu.
Brother of ceramic artist Miura Mito.
1994
Graduated from the Department of Crafts, Lacquerware, Faculty of Fine Arts, Kyoto City University of Arts.
1995
Completed the Kyoto City Traditional Industry Technician Training Program, Lacquerware Course.
1996
Selected for the 10th Japan Sencha Crafts Exhibition.
Received the Minister of Education's Encouragement Award at the 10th and 13th exhibitions.
Received the All Japan Sencha Crafts Association Encouragement Award at the 16th exhibition.
Received the All Japan Sencha Ceremony Federation Award at the 17th exhibition.
Received the Minister of Education's Encouragement Award at the 18th exhibition.
1997
Together with his grandfather, Etsu, II, and his father, Etsu, III,
Held the "Three Generations Exhibition with Lacquer."
He subsequently held solo exhibitions, parent-child exhibitions, and three-generation exhibitions
group exhibitions at Takashimaya department stores in Kyoto, Osaka, and JR Nagoya.
1998
Graduated from the Kagawa Prefectural Lacquerware Research Institute
His work was selected for his first exhibition at the 45th Japan Traditional Crafts Exhibition.
1999
His work was selected for his first exhibition at the 28th Japan Traditional Crafts Kinki Exhibition.
He received the Nihon Keizai Shimbun Award at the 30th Exhibition.
He received the Japan Crafts Association Award at the 34th Exhibition,
and the Shiga Prefectural Board of Education Superintendent's Award at the 39th Exhibition.
He received the Matsushita Konosuke Memorial Award at the 48th Exhibition.
2007
"The Beauty of Lacquer: Masami Isoi Award Exhibition 2007 - Lacquer Art Across the Centuries"
Received the Asunaro Award.
2009
"31st Kyoto Craft Artists Association Exhibition" Association Award
Received the Encouragement Award at the 27th Kyoto Prefecture Cultural Award
Certified as a Kyoto-mono Certified Craftsman
2010
"Kyoto Prefecture Art and Crafts Newcomers Exhibition - 2010 Kyoto Craft Biennale" Excellence Award
2013
Received the Encouragement Award from the Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry's Commendation for Contributions to the Traditional Craft Industry in 2013
2014
Jury and invited exhibitor at the 60th All-Kansai Art Exhibition.
2015
Geibunkyo Exhibition Excellence Award at the 1st Geibunkyo Exhibition
Jury member and invited exhibitor at the National Woodcraft Festival in Yakushima
2019
Received the Kyoto City New Artist Award
2020
Succeeded in the name of Omote Etsu IV
As a organizer of the DO YOU KYOTO? Network, he works with Mishoryu Sasaoka Iemoto Ryuho and Kanze Noh actor Hashimoto Tadaki to raise awareness of environmental destruction through cultural excellence through events in Kyoto and Tokyo.
He also promotes lacquerware culture through student courses and lectures around the country.
2012-2013: Chairman of the Kyoto Lacquerware Youth Association
Currently: Full Member of the Japan Crafts Association, Member of the Kyoto Craft Artists Association, Director of the Kyoto Lacquerware Crafts Cooperative, Full Member of the Japan Sencha Crafts Association, Member of the Kyoto Crafts Association, Member of the Crafts Kyoto Association, Member of the Craftsmen Association, Member of the Society for the Science of Lacquerware, Kyoto City "DO YOU KYOTO?" Ambassador, Member of the DO YOU KYOTO? Network
Specially Appointed Professor, Faculty of Art, Kyoto University of Art