The Creative World of Ōsaka Hiromichi, Living National Treasure (Photos)

Ōsaka HiromichiBorn in 1937. After graduating from the fine arts department of Tokyo Gakugei University, worked as a junior high school art teacher. In 1980, he was commissioned by the Imperial Household Agency to recreate several treasures from the collection of the Shōsō-in treasure house at the Tōdai-ji temple in Nara. In 1984, he retired from teaching to concentrate on his craft on a full-time basis. He has won numerous awards and decorations for his work, culminating in his recognition as a Living National Treasure in 1997.

The Creative World of Ōsaka Hiromichi, Living National Treasure

Box for writing brush with inlaid scrolling floral design (1994). Tin inlay on black persimmon wood.

Lotus-petal shaped covered container with an inlaid lattice of arabesque-style patterns (1999). Black persimmon wood inlaid with tin. Opening the lid reveals a vibrant world of gold leaf.

Container with an inlaid hōsōge floral design (2002). Tin inlaid on a surface of black persimmon wood. Hōsōge is a type of arabesque that was popular during the Nara (710– 794) and Heian (794–1185) periods.

Incense box inalid with raden and tin (2010). Tin and various shells inlaid on a surface of black persimmon wood. The piece has a beguiling luster, which changes subtly depending on the viewer’s perspective.

Ōsaka Hiromichi in his studio at home. Ōsaka says he is never happier than when he is absorbed in his work.

After carving the lattice, Ōsaka uses a small tool to smooth out the surface of the wood.

When carving a piece from a single piece of wood, the slightest mistake can been disastrous. Ōsaka needs to make sure he gets everything absolutely right every step of the way.

Boxwood incense container with filigreed latticework and hōsōge-style arabesque patterns (2011). This is Ōsaka’s most recent piece.

The lotus-flower design on the lid is carved out of a single piece of wood. The beauty of the minute details is breathtaking.

Writing brush box inlaid with arabesque-style patterns (1997). Tin inlay on black persimmon wood.

Floral incense container made from boxwood inlaid with tin (2009).

Raden incense box with inlaid arabesque-style patterns (2009). This piece features a base of black persimmon inlaid with tin and marbled turban shell. The straight lines of the inlaid shells immediately give the work a contemporary feel.

Design sketches. Ōsaka’s detailed sketches guide him during the painstaking carving stage of his work.

A work in progress: Ōsaka’s own funerary urn (kotsubako). For this piece, completed in 2003, Ōsaka used an alternating inlay of tin and gold to create an intricate arabesque pattern.

Ōsaka inserts the tin inlay into a piece of wood that will be incorporated into a design. This work requires remarkable precision—down to one tenth of a millimeter. These strips of wood are the building blocks of Ōsaka’s artistic vision.

Some of Ōsaka’s tools.

Ōsaka’s workspace in his apartment in Nakamurabashi, Tokyo.