[Ginza Wako] “Crafts Expressions by Four Artists” will be held from Thursday, March 19th

An exhibition by four artists at the forefront of contemporary Japanese crafts

From Thursday, March 19th to Sunday, March 29th, 2026, Wako Ginza will be holding an exhibition at the Seiko House Hall featuring four cutting-edge artists in their 40s and 50s who have established their own unique styles in the fields of lacquerware, metalwork, and ceramics and have received high praise both in Japan and abroad.

(Top image: Mitsuke Masayasu, red-glazed incense burner, w6.6 x d6.6 x h7 cm)

Lacquer artist Ikeda Akimasa creates cyberspace that fits in the palm of your hand, with delicate mother-of-pearl and maki-e designs emerging from a jet-black world.
Hasegawa Seikichi is a metalworker who uses advanced techniques such as inlay and openwork to create innovative objects centered around tea ceremony utensils.
Ceramic artist Akishi Niizato pursues sophisticated beauty with the theme of "light" and the transparent pointillism patterns he applies to the body of his vessels.
Ceramic artist Mitsuke Masayasu has inherited the traditional Kutani red-glazed porcelain technique and has created a world of elegant, detailed depictions that combines classical and modern sensibilities.

"I want to be inspired by beautiful things, and while being conscious of my own way of expression, create works that also convey the dignity of traditional techniques," says Mitsuke, and just as he says, the four artists are each working in their own fields, maximizing the appeal of their materials and honing their skills every day in pursuit of their ideal expression. The distinctive personalities that emanate from their works and the unique sensibilities of each of the four artists resonate in this space. Please come and see this exhibition of artists who are challenging new possibilities in crafts.

◎A talk event is planned with Mieko Iwai and four exhibiting artists.
Date and time: Sunday, March 22nd, 14:00~
Moderator: Mieko Iwai (Chief of the Crafts Department, National Crafts Museum)
◎Entry may be restricted during busy times.
For inquiries, please contact Wako Art Department at 03-3562-2111 (main number)

■Information about the lottery sale Purchases of works will be accepted by lottery. If you are interested, please apply in person at Seiko House Hall. Applications via email or telephone will not be accepted.

<Application date>
March 19th (Thurs) and 20th (Fri) 11:00-19:00 each day
March 21st (Sat) 11:00-14:00

<Lottery result notification>
March 21st (Sat) 16:00-19:00

◎Each artist may submit up to two works.
◎Purchases by lottery are limited to one item per artist per person.
◎Only winners will be notified by phone or email.
◎Cancellations will not be accepted after you have been selected.
◎Works that are not entered into the lottery will be sold at Seiko House Hall from 11:00 on Sunday, March 22nd.
◎Depending on the level of congestion, admission may be restricted.
For inquiries regarding the lottery sale, please contact the Wako Art Department at 03-3562-2111 (main number).

Terumasa Ikeda (Ikeda Terumasa) Biography
Born in Chiba Prefecture in 1987
2014 Graduated from Kanazawa College of Art, Department of Crafts, Lacquer and Woodwork Course
2016: Completed Master's course at Kanazawa College of Art
2019: Graduated from Kanazawa Utatsuyama Craft Workshop and set up a workshop in Kanazawa city
2020 "Wako Zekka Exhibition – Super Crafts of the Reiwa Era" Panasonic Shiodome Museum of Art
2021 "Twelve Hawks and Meiji Crafts: From the Expo Era to the Present: A Changing Appearance" at the National Crafts Museum

Seikichi Hasegawa (Hasegawa Seikichi) Biography
Born in Nagoya, Aichi Prefecture in 1982 as the eldest son of the third-generation Hasegawa Ipponsai.
2001: Enrolled in the sculpture department at Chelsea College of Art and Design, London
In 2003, he dropped out of the university and returned to Japan to train in metalwork and engraving under his father.
2018: Created Kaigu as tea offering utensils for the ceremony celebrating the completion of the Chukondo Hall of Kofukuji Temple. "Tea – Prayer and Pleasure" Furukawa Museum of Art
2023-2025 "Superb Craftsmanship, For the Future! Meiji Crafts and Their DNA" (Traveling Exhibition at Mitsui Memorial Museum of Art)

Akio Niisato (Niisato Akio) Biography
Born in Chiba Prefecture in 1977
2001 Graduated from Tajimi City Ceramic Design Institute
2004 "Heartless Objects – 11 Contemporary Craft Artists" Crafts Gallery, The National Museum of Modern Art, Tokyo
2011-2012: Trainee of the Agency for Cultural Affairs' Overseas Dispatch Program for Emerging Artists / Boston, USA
2020 "Wako Zekka Exhibition – Super Crafts of the Reiwa Era" Panasonic Shiodome Museum of Art
2021 "DOMANI Tomorrow Exhibition 2021" The National Art Center, Tokyo "No Man's Land – The Future of Ceramics, Beyond the Unseen Horizon" The Museum of Ceramic Art, Hyogo 2020 Japan Ceramic Association Award Winner Currently working in Toki City, Gifu Prefecture

Masayasu Mitsuke (Mitsuke Masayasu) brief biography
Born in Kaga City, Ishikawa Prefecture in 1975
1997 Graduated from Ishikawa Prefectural Kutani Ware Technical Training Institute and studied under Fukushima Takeyama
2012 "Craft Futurism" 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art, Kanazawa
2014 "Logical Emotion – Japanese Contemporary Art Exhibition" Museum Hauskonstruktiv, Switzerland (traveled to museums in Poland and Germany in 2015)
2015 "Japanese Kogei FUTURE FORWARD" Museum of Arts & Design, USA
2019: Received the Encouragement Award at the 39th Pola Traditional Culture Awards
2020 "Wakou Zekka Exhibition – Super Crafts of the Reiwa Era" Panasonic Shiodome Museum of Art
2021 "No Man's Land – The Future of Ceramics, Beyond the Unseen Horizon" The Museum of Ceramic Art, Hyogo
2022 "Genreless Crafts Exhibition" at the National Crafts Museum
2024 "Companions of the Canvas: Ryutaro Takahashi Collection Exhibition" Yamagata Museum of Art

"Crafts Expressions by Four People Exhibition"
Thursday, March 19th – Sunday, March 29th, 2026

Venue: Seiko House Hall (Seiko House 6th floor, 4-5-11 Ginza, Chuo-ku, Tokyo)
For inquiries, please contact: 03-3562-2111 (main number)
Business hours: 11:00-19:00 (until 17:00 on the last day)
Closed: Open daily Admission fee: Free Organizer: Wako

◎Wako Hall has been renamed "Seiko House Hall."
We will be communicating various things to the world, including exhibits related to the Seiko Group's business in general and collaborations with artists.
Business hours and events are subject to change without notice.
Please visit our website for the latest information.

Home page
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/

[Wako Co., Ltd.] Press release

<Past related articles>
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[Ginza Wako] "Brilliant Crafts Exhibition: The Internationality of Ceramics" to be held from Thursday, February 19th

[Ginza Wako] "The 2nd Ishikawa Crafts: Lacquer and Ceramics" will be held from January 29, 2026 (Thursday)