An exhibition featuring works by four artists working with glass, lacquer, metal, and wood. Includes special collaborative pieces.
From Thursday, September 10th to Wednesday, September 23rd, Wako in Ginza will host the second installment of the group exhibition "Four Petals, Fragrant," at the Seiko House Hall. This exhibition features works using four different materials—glass, lacquer, metal, and wood—to represent a single flower petal.
(Top visual: Collaboration artwork "Four-petaled flower, Flower of Time" w21-33 x d7-12.7 x h1.8-4 cm)
Yukako Kojima creates sculptures that contain light by layering and carving glass sheets.
Mina Okui pursues the soft and elegant forms unique to dry lacquerware, along with the deep color and luster of the lacquer.
Takahiro Iede is pioneering a new world of metal sculpting with his unique technique, "Ayaori-gane."
Based on his solid woodworking skills, Akio Watanabe creates elegant pieces that harmonize wood grain and inlay.
This exhibition features over 80 works that encapsulate the charm of craftsmanship, ranging from tableware that enriches daily life to wall art and sculptures. A special collaborative piece, the culmination of the skills of four artists, will also add to the exhibition's splendor.
Please enjoy viewing these numerous works, each showcasing the unique charm of its respective material.
◎A gallery talk will be held at the venue by the four exhibiting artists.
September 12th (Sat) and 20th (Sun), starting at 2:00 PM each day.
Yukako Kojima
“Layers of Light -Water-” w21×d6×h35cm
Okui Mina
Dry lacquer box "Nei" (W33.5 x D22.5 x H16cm)
Takahiro Iede
Ayaori-gane "Hanaemi" φ18×h12.5cm
Akio Watanabe
Black persimmon wood box with sappanwood dye and wiped lacquer, "Haruka" (meaning "faraway"), w12.4 × d12.4 × h17.5 cm
Photography: Tomoya Nomura
Yukako Kojima (Kojima Yukako) – Brief Biography
Born in Ishikawa Prefecture in 1979 and raised in Chiba Prefecture.
Graduated from Tama Art University, Department of Sculpture, Craft Design Specialization, Glass Course in 2001.
Completed graduate studies at the Toyama Glass Art Institute in 2006.
2007 International Glass Exhibition Kanazawa 2007, 10th Anniversary Special Award; 54th Japan Traditional Crafts Exhibition, Prince Takamatsu Memorial Award
2011: Grand Prize, 4th Contemporary Glass Grand Prize Exhibition, Toyama 2011
2018 Group Exhibition "Forms: A Flourishing Array of Five Flowers" (Wako)
Silver Prize at the Toyama Glass Grand Prize Exhibition 2018 (International Exhibition)
2023 Group Exhibition "Four-Petaled Flower, Fragrant" (Wako)
Invited to participate as a workshop instructor at the 2024 International Festival of Glass (Stourbridge, UK).
Invited to attend the International Glass Symposium Nový Bor (Novibor, Czech Republic)
Mina Okui (Okui Mina) – Brief Biography
Born in Kanagawa Prefecture in 1970.
Graduated from Tokyo Woman's Christian University in 1992.
Graduated from the Ishikawa Prefectural Wajima Lacquerware Technical Training Institute, Lacquer Art Department in 2001. Studied under Kazumi Murose (until 2009).
2006: 53rd Japan Traditional Crafts Exhibition, Tokyo Governor's Award
2017, 64th Japan Traditional Crafts Exhibition, Japan Crafts Association President's Award
2018 Group Exhibition "Forms: A Flourishing Array of Five Flowers" (Wako)
Received the Purple Ribbon Medal in 2020.
2023, 40th Japan Traditional Lacquerware Exhibition, Tokyo Metropolitan Board of Education Award, Group Exhibition "Four-Petaled Flower, Fragrant" (Wako)
Currently a full member of the Japan Crafts Association and a standing director of the Japan Cultural Properties Lacquerware Association.
Takahiro Iede
Born in Fukui Prefecture in 1962.
Graduated from Tokyo Designer Gakuin, Department of Crafts and Industrial Design, Metalwork Course in 1982.
1995: 42nd Japan Traditional Crafts Exhibition, Japan Crafts Association President's Award (Purchased by the Agency for Cultural Affairs, now in the collection of the Tokyo National Museum)
2013 TEFAF Maastricht MECC Maastricht (Netherlands) (until 2020)
2015: 62nd Japan Traditional Crafts Exhibition, Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology Award (Purchased by the Agency for Cultural Affairs)
Received the Medal of Honor with Purple Ribbon in 2016.
2018 Group Exhibition "Forms: A Flourishing Array of Five Flowers" (Wako)
"150 Years of Japonism," Musée des Arts Décoratifs, Paris (France)
2021 "Japan: A History of Style" Metropolitan Museum of Art (New York)
2023 Group Exhibition "Four-Petaled Flower, Fragrant" (Wako)
Public collections: Tokyo National Museum, Agency for Cultural Affairs, Metropolitan Museum of Art (New York),
Smithsonian Institution, National Art Museum of Asian Art (Washington, D.C.)
Currently a full member of the Japan Crafts Association.
Akio Watanabe
Born in Chiba Prefecture in 1953.
Graduated from Chiba University Junior College of Engineering, Department of Woodcraft in 1976, and studied under Hirokichi Honda.
In 1983, he studied under Toyoki Sato.
1996-2010: The "Hibiki no Kai" event was held every other year (Wako).
2013: 14th Traditional Crafts Wood and Bamboo Exhibition, Tokyo Metropolitan Board of Education Award
2014: Received the Tokyo Governor's Award at the 61st Japan Traditional Crafts Exhibition.
2018: Received the Tokyo Governor's Award at the 65th Japan Traditional Crafts Exhibition; Group exhibition "Forms: A Flourishing Array of Five Flowers" (Wako).
Received the Purple Ribbon Medal in 2019.
2023 Group Exhibition "Four-Petaled Flower, Fragrant" (Wako)
Received the Excellence Award at the 44th Traditional Culture Pola Awards in 2024, and the Tama City Citizen's Award.
In 2025, he was recognized as a holder of the Important Intangible Cultural Property "Woodcraft" and received the Tama City Honorary Award. He is currently an advisor and auditor of the Japan Crafts Association.
"Four-petaled flower, fragrant II: Glass, lacquer, metal, wood"
Thursday, September 10th – Wednesday, September 23rd, 2026
Venue: Seiko House Hall (6th floor, Seiko House, 4-5-11 Ginza, Chuo-ku, Tokyo)
For inquiries, please call: 03-3562-2111 (main number)
Opening hours: 11:00 AM – 7:00 PM (until 5:00 PM on the last day)
Closed days: Open every day
Admission fee: Free
Organizer: Wako
◎Seiko House Hall will reopen on Thursday, August 27th, as a new cultural hub. We will continue to send various messages to the world, including exhibitions related to the entire Seiko Group business and co-creations with artists.
Opening hours and events are subject to change without notice.
For the latest information, please visit our website.
Homepage
https://www.wako.co.jp/
Instagram
https://www.instagram.com/wako_ginza_tokyo/
Instagram dedicated to art
https://www.instagram.com/art_wako_ginza_tokyo/
[From Wako Co., Ltd. press release ]
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