{"id":6667,"date":"2025-10-01T20:37:56","date_gmt":"2025-10-01T11:37:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/en.kogei-japonica.com\/media\/?p=6667"},"modified":"2025-10-01T20:37:56","modified_gmt":"2025-10-01T11:37:56","slug":"yukie-osumi","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/en.kogei-japonica.com\/media\/lnt\/yukie-osumi\/","title":{"rendered":"Who is Yukie Osumi? Japan&#8217;s First Female Living National Treasure in &#8220;Tankin&#8221; (Forging Metal) \u2014 A Comprehensive Guide to Her Style, Lineage, and Masterpieces"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Yukie Osumi is the first woman in Japan&#8217;s metal craft field to be designated as a Living National Treasure for &#8220;tankin&#8221; (forging metal).<br \/>\nIn the world of tankin, where metals such as copper and silver are hammered and shaped, she has established a unique style that combines both softness and strength.<\/p>\n<p>Behind this achievement lies her lineage and educational journey, and through numerous masterpieces, she has opened new horizons in Japanese metalwork.<br \/>\nHowever, to properly understand her accomplishments and the appeal of her works, it&#8217;s essential to know the characteristics of her style, her lineage, and her representative works. This article provides a detailed explanation of Yukie Osumi&#8217;s profile and artistic world.<br \/>\n<div class=\"linkcard\"><div class=\"lkc-external-wrap\"><a class=\"lkc-link no_icon\" href=\"https:\/\/en.kogei-japonica.com\/artists\/yukie-osumi\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"external noopener\"><div class=\"lkc-card\"><div class=\"lkc-info\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"lkc-favicon\" src=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/s2\/favicons?domain=en.kogei-japonica.com\" alt=\"\" width=\"16\" height=\"16\" \/><div class=\"lkc-domain\">en.kogei-japonica.com<\/div><\/div><div class=\"lkc-content\"><figure class=\"lkc-thumbnail\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"lkc-thumbnail-img\" src=\"\/\/en.kogei-japonica.com\/media\/wp-content\/uploads\/pz-linkcard\/cache\/ad550bdbb54d5828411156878340fdbf59b83baa8f563ac4b1d5a0d5d86e2bf5.jpeg\" width=\"100px\" height=\"108px\" alt=\"\" \/><\/figure><div class=\"lkc-title\">Yukie Osumi<\/div><div class=\"lkc-url\" title=\"https:\/\/en.kogei-japonica.com\/artists\/yukie-osumi\/\">https:\/\/en.kogei-japonica.com\/artists\/yukie-osumi\/<\/div><div class=\"lkc-excerpt\">Living National Treasure. Holder of Important Intangible Cultural Property. Japan Traditional Crafts Association Councillor: Born 1945.<\/div><\/div><div class=\"clear\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div><\/a><\/div><\/div><\/p>\n<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_73 ez-toc-wrap-center counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-white ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/en.kogei-japonica.com\/media\/lnt\/yukie-osumi\/#Who_is_Yukie_Osumi\" title=\"Who is Yukie Osumi?\">Who is Yukie Osumi?<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/en.kogei-japonica.com\/media\/lnt\/yukie-osumi\/#Born_1945_in_Kakegawa_Shizuoka_Prefecture_Education_at_Tokyo_University_of_the_Arts\" title=\"Born 1945 in Kakegawa, Shizuoka Prefecture \/ Education at Tokyo University of the Arts\">Born 1945 in Kakegawa, Shizuoka Prefecture \/ Education at Tokyo University of the Arts<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/en.kogei-japonica.com\/media\/lnt\/yukie-osumi\/#Designated_Field_Reaching_the_Pinnacle_of_Important_Intangible_Cultural_Property_%E2%80%9CTankin%E2%80%9D_Forging_Metal\" title=\"Designated Field: Reaching the Pinnacle of Important Intangible Cultural Property &#8220;Tankin&#8221; (Forging Metal)\">Designated Field: Reaching the Pinnacle of Important Intangible Cultural Property &#8220;Tankin&#8221; (Forging Metal)<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/en.kogei-japonica.com\/media\/lnt\/yukie-osumi\/#Major_Honors_Medal_with_Purple_Ribbon_Order_of_the_Rising_Sun_Gold_and_Silver_Rays_and_Japan_Traditional_Kogei_Exhibition_Awards\" title=\"Major Honors: Medal with Purple Ribbon, Order of the Rising Sun, Gold and Silver Rays, and Japan Traditional K\u014dgei Exhibition Awards\">Major Honors: Medal with Purple Ribbon, Order of the Rising Sun, Gold and Silver Rays, and Japan Traditional K\u014dgei Exhibition Awards<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/en.kogei-japonica.com\/media\/lnt\/yukie-osumi\/#The_Core_of_Her_Style_and_Techniques_%E2%80%94_The_Trinity_of_Tankin_%C3%97_Chokin_%C3%97_Nunome-Zogan\" title=\"The Core of Her Style and Techniques \u2014 The Trinity of Tankin \u00d7 Ch\u014dkin \u00d7 Nunome-Z\u014dgan\">The Core of Her Style and Techniques \u2014 The Trinity of Tankin \u00d7 Ch\u014dkin \u00d7 Nunome-Z\u014dgan<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/en.kogei-japonica.com\/media\/lnt\/yukie-osumi\/#The_Aesthetic_of_Nunome-Zogan_The_Radiance_Woven_by_Gold_Silver_Lead_and_Platinum\" title=\"The Aesthetic of Nunome-Z\u014dgan: The Radiance Woven by Gold, Silver, Lead, and Platinum\">The Aesthetic of Nunome-Z\u014dgan: The Radiance Woven by Gold, Silver, Lead, and Platinum<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7\" href=\"https:\/\/en.kogei-japonica.com\/media\/lnt\/yukie-osumi\/#The_Sculptural_Beauty_of_Vessel_Forms_Depicting_%E2%80%9CWaves_Clouds_Wind%E2%80%9D_Through_Ridgelines_Volume_and_Base_Metal_Color\" title=\"The Sculptural Beauty of Vessel Forms: Depicting &#8220;Waves, Clouds, Wind&#8221; Through Ridgelines, Volume, and Base Metal Color\">The Sculptural Beauty of Vessel Forms: Depicting &#8220;Waves, Clouds, Wind&#8221; Through Ridgelines, Volume, and Base Metal Color<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-8\" href=\"https:\/\/en.kogei-japonica.com\/media\/lnt\/yukie-osumi\/#Representative_Works_and_Collection_Locations_Silver_Hammered_Flower_Vase_%E2%80%9COshio%E2%80%9D_and_Others_Major_Domestic_and_International_Museums\" title=\"Representative Works and Collection Locations: Silver Hammered Flower Vase &#8220;\u014cshio&#8221; and Others \/ Major Domestic and International Museums\">Representative Works and Collection Locations: Silver Hammered Flower Vase &#8220;\u014cshio&#8221; and Others \/ Major Domestic and International Museums<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-9\" href=\"https:\/\/en.kogei-japonica.com\/media\/lnt\/yukie-osumi\/#Lineage_and_Career_Turning_Points\" title=\"Lineage and Career Turning Points\">Lineage and Career Turning Points<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-10\" href=\"https:\/\/en.kogei-japonica.com\/media\/lnt\/yukie-osumi\/#Learning_Metalwork_Succession_from_Ikkoku_Kashima_Shiro_Sekiya_and_Moriyuki_Katsura\" title=\"Learning Metalwork Succession from Ikkoku Kashima, Shiro Sekiya, and Moriyuki Katsura\">Learning Metalwork Succession from Ikkoku Kashima, Shiro Sekiya, and Moriyuki Katsura<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-11\" href=\"https:\/\/en.kogei-japonica.com\/media\/lnt\/yukie-osumi\/#Recognition_at_the_Japan_Traditional_Kogei_Exhibition\" title=\"Recognition at the Japan Traditional K\u014dgei Exhibition\">Recognition at the Japan Traditional K\u014dgei Exhibition<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-12\" href=\"https:\/\/en.kogei-japonica.com\/media\/lnt\/yukie-osumi\/#The_Significance_of_2015_Holder_Designation_A_Pioneering_Achievement_as_the_First_Woman_in_the_Metalwork_Field\" title=\"The Significance of 2015 Holder Designation: A Pioneering Achievement as the First Woman in the Metalwork Field\">The Significance of 2015 Holder Designation: A Pioneering Achievement as the First Woman in the Metalwork Field<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-13\" href=\"https:\/\/en.kogei-japonica.com\/media\/lnt\/yukie-osumi\/#Conclusion\" title=\"Conclusion\">Conclusion<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Who_is_Yukie_Osumi\"><\/span>Who is Yukie Osumi?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><iframe width=\"560\" height=\"315\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/HHvp4KYaDRs?si=HexLzIBQK-bX3AT1\" title=\"YouTube video player\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><br \/>\nYukie Osumi (born 1945) is an artist representing Japanese metalwork and is known as a holder of Important Intangible Cultural Property &#8220;tankin&#8221; (forging metal).<br \/>\nBorn in Kakegawa City, Shizuoka Prefecture, after studying at Tokyo University of the Arts, she began walking the path of tankin in earnest.<\/p>\n<p>While mastering the tankin technique of hammering thin metal plates to shape and decorate them, she has developed forms that incorporate contemporary sensibilities.<br \/>\nHer works inherit craft traditions while presenting new beauty, earning high acclaim both domestically and internationally.<\/p>\n<p>Furthermore, she has devoted herself to education and nurturing the next generation, leading the Japan Kogei Association for many years.<br \/>\nHere, we&#8217;ll introduce her educational background, designated field, and major awards.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Born_1945_in_Kakegawa_Shizuoka_Prefecture_Education_at_Tokyo_University_of_the_Arts\"><\/span>Born 1945 in Kakegawa, Shizuoka Prefecture \/ Education at Tokyo University of the Arts<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Yukie Osumi was born in Kakegawa City, Shizuoka Prefecture in 1945. From childhood, she had an interest in handwork and art, eventually discovering the appeal of metalwork crafts.<\/p>\n<p>She chose Tokyo University of the Arts, the pinnacle of art education in Japan, majoring in Art Studies at the Faculty of Fine Arts and graduating in 1969.<br \/>\nAfter graduation, she studied under Ikkoku Kashima, Shiro Sekiya, and Moriyuki Katsura, thoroughly mastering the fundamentals of tankin technique and aspiring to become an artist.<\/p>\n<p>The experience cultivated through university education and instruction from her masters became the core of her subsequent creative activities, resulting in a unique style that balances the delicacy and strength of tankin.<br \/>\nHer education at Tokyo University of the Arts and subsequent training can be said to be the period that built a solid foundation for Yukie Osumi to emerge in Japan&#8217;s metalwork world.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Designated_Field_Reaching_the_Pinnacle_of_Important_Intangible_Cultural_Property_%E2%80%9CTankin%E2%80%9D_Forging_Metal\"><\/span>Designated Field: Reaching the Pinnacle of Important Intangible Cultural Property &#8220;Tankin&#8221; (Forging Metal)<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Yukie Osumi has been active in the tankin field for many years, and as the culmination of this, she was designated as a holder of Important Intangible Cultural Property (Living National Treasure) in 2015.<br \/>\nTankin is a technique of hammering metal plates to shape them, an advanced craft technique capable of expressing warmth and softness beyond the coldness inherent in metal.<\/p>\n<p>Yukie Osumi&#8217;s works are characterized by their fusion of traditional technical precision with contemporary sculptural sensibility.<br \/>\nFrom flower vases and tea ceremony utensils to abstract objects, her diverse body of work maximizes the texture and luster of metal, providing viewers with new sensations.<\/p>\n<p>Yukie Osumi&#8217;s journey demonstrates a path to connect the traditional field of tankin to the next generation, holding great significance in craft history.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Major_Honors_Medal_with_Purple_Ribbon_Order_of_the_Rising_Sun_Gold_and_Silver_Rays_and_Japan_Traditional_Kogei_Exhibition_Awards\"><\/span>Major Honors: Medal with Purple Ribbon, Order of the Rising Sun, Gold and Silver Rays, and Japan Traditional K\u014dgei Exhibition Awards<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Yukie Osumi has repeatedly won selections and awards at the Japan Traditional K\u014dgei Exhibition, including the Imperial Prize in 1987, establishing her position as a leading figure in the metalwork field.<br \/>\nFurthermore, in 2010, she received the Medal with Purple Ribbon for her long-standing contributions to cultural activities, and in 2017, she was awarded the Order of the Rising Sun, Gold and Silver Rays.<\/p>\n<p>These honors demonstrate that Yukie Osumi&#8217;s creative activities transcended the framework of personal art and contributed to Japanese culture as a whole.<br \/>\nHer abundant awards are evidence that her technical skill and expressive power have been highly valued both domestically and internationally, showing that Yukie Osumi&#8217;s presence has contributed to the development of Japan&#8217;s craft world. These achievements will continue to be passed down as a model for future generations.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"The_Core_of_Her_Style_and_Techniques_%E2%80%94_The_Trinity_of_Tankin_%C3%97_Chokin_%C3%97_Nunome-Zogan\"><\/span>The Core of Her Style and Techniques \u2014 The Trinity of Tankin \u00d7 Ch\u014dkin \u00d7 Nunome-Z\u014dgan<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Yukie Osumi&#8217;s artistic style lies in comprehensive metalwork expression that fuses ch\u014dkin (metal engraving) and nunome-z\u014dgan (textile-pattern inlay) while based on traditional tankin.<br \/>\nBy combining tankin, which shapes forms by hammering base metal, ch\u014dkin, which adds carving to details to emphasize shadows, and nunome-z\u014dgan, which inlays gold, silver, lead, and platinum, in a trinity, she has achieved rich texture and three-dimensionality unlike any other.<\/p>\n<p>The ability to express soft waves and flowing clouds beyond the hardness of metal demonstrates Yukie Osumi&#8217;s uniqueness, pushing traditional metalwork into new territory.<br \/>\nHere, we&#8217;ll introduce in detail the aesthetic of nunome-z\u014dgan, the sculptural beauty of vessel forms, and representative works with their collection locations.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"The_Aesthetic_of_Nunome-Zogan_The_Radiance_Woven_by_Gold_Silver_Lead_and_Platinum\"><\/span>The Aesthetic of Nunome-Z\u014dgan: The Radiance Woven by Gold, Silver, Lead, and Platinum<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<div class=\"iframe-center\"><iframe src=\"https:\/\/assets.pinterest.com\/ext\/embed.html?id=17944098496387160\" height=\"448\" width=\"345\" frameborder=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\" ><\/iframe><\/div>\n<p>Essential to Yukie Osumi&#8217;s works is the nunome-z\u014dgan technique. This involves carving fine textile-pattern grooves on the surface of the base metal and embedding different metals such as gold, silver, lead, and platinum into them.<\/p>\n<p>The textile-pattern carving must be fine and uniform, and its precision determines the brilliance and adhesion of the inlaid metals.<br \/>\nYukie Osumi masters this technique, controlling the subtle reflections between metals to express depth and color that cannot be achieved with a single metal.<\/p>\n<p>Particularly, nunome-z\u014dgan, whose brilliance changes depending on light sources, resonates with designs reflecting natural transitions, constantly giving viewers new impressions.<br \/>\nThrough such meticulous work, Yukie Osumi has brought pictorial expressiveness to metalwork, establishing artistry that transcends craft.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"The_Sculptural_Beauty_of_Vessel_Forms_Depicting_%E2%80%9CWaves_Clouds_Wind%E2%80%9D_Through_Ridgelines_Volume_and_Base_Metal_Color\"><\/span>The Sculptural Beauty of Vessel Forms: Depicting &#8220;Waves, Clouds, Wind&#8221; Through Ridgelines, Volume, and Base Metal Color<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<div class=\"iframe-center\"><iframe src=\"https:\/\/assets.pinterest.com\/ext\/embed.html?id=290130401007472904\" height=\"542\" width=\"345\" frameborder=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\" ><\/iframe><\/div>\n<p>Yukie Osumi&#8217;s tankin works feature sculptural beauty where the vessel form itself symbolizes the forces of nature.<br \/>\nThey are characterized by skillfully utilizing the sharpness of ridgelines and the volume of base metal to abstractly depict the undulation of waves, the drift of clouds, and the flow of wind.<\/p>\n<p>In the tankin process of hammering copper and silver, she pursued the tension and tautness of surfaces and curves while balancing thinness with strength.<br \/>\nFurthermore, she directly incorporated the reddish-copper and silvery-white colors of the base metal into the design, creating dynamic expression through contrast with the metallic colors of nunome-z\u014dgan.<\/p>\n<p>The vessel forms exist not as mere containers but as symbolic entities that shape natural phenomena, evoking in viewers the expanse of atmosphere and water.<br \/>\nYukie Osumi&#8217;s works can be said to perform a &#8220;poetry of nature&#8221; in metal, transcending the framework of traditional crafts.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Representative_Works_and_Collection_Locations_Silver_Hammered_Flower_Vase_%E2%80%9COshio%E2%80%9D_and_Others_Major_Domestic_and_International_Museums\"><\/span>Representative Works and Collection Locations: Silver Hammered Flower Vase &#8220;\u014cshio&#8221; and Others \/ Major Domestic and International Museums<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<div class=\"iframe-center\"><iframe src=\"https:\/\/assets.pinterest.com\/ext\/embed.html?id=711779916141627013\" height=\"592\" width=\"345\" frameborder=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\" ><\/iframe><\/div>\n<p>One of Yukie Osumi&#8217;s representative works is the flower vase &#8220;\u014cshio&#8221; (Great Tide), created in 2023 through silver hammering.<br \/>\nThis work, which symbolically shapes the power of the sea where waves advance and recede, radiates a powerful presence through the unity of tankin&#8217;s thickness and the play of light from nunome-z\u014dgan.<\/p>\n<p>Her other works also center on nature as their theme, building a unique worldview through the fusion of minute inlay patterns carved on metal surfaces with sculptural forms.<br \/>\nYukie Osumi&#8217;s works have received high acclaim through the Japan Traditional K\u014dgei Exhibition and solo exhibitions, and are collected domestically at institutions such as the National Museum of Modern Art, Crafts Gallery, and internationally at the Victoria and Albert Museum (London), Metropolitan Museum of Art (New York), and Smithsonian National Museum of Asian Art (Washington D.C.).<\/p>\n<p>This body of work occupies a firm position in contemporary craft history as achievement that elevated tankin technique to the artistic realm.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Lineage_and_Career_Turning_Points\"><\/span>Lineage and Career Turning Points<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Yukie Osumi&#8217;s journey has been shaped by techniques inherited from her masters and career turning points she forged herself.<br \/>\nThe starting point was learning traditional tankin techniques from metalwork masters Ikkoku Kashima, Shiro Sekiya, and Moriyuki Katsura, thoroughly mastering these fundamentals.<\/p>\n<p>Furthermore, awards and recognition at the Japan Traditional K\u014dgei Exhibition increased her national prominence, and overseas training experiences provided new perspectives to her style.<br \/>\nThen in 2015, she achieved the remarkable feat of becoming the first woman designated as a holder of Important Intangible Cultural Property &#8220;tankin&#8221; (forging metal) in the metalwork field, solidifying her position. Here, we&#8217;ll delve into her lineage and education, domestic and international recognition, and the significance of holder designation.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Learning_Metalwork_Succession_from_Ikkoku_Kashima_Shiro_Sekiya_and_Moriyuki_Katsura\"><\/span>Learning Metalwork Succession from Ikkoku Kashima, Shiro Sekiya, and Moriyuki Katsura<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<h4>Ikkoku Kashima<\/h4>\n<p><iframe width=\"560\" height=\"315\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/I85PCCg7l8g?si=lPFPLCsjEI6cXefD\" title=\"YouTube video player\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><br \/>\nAfter graduating from Tokyo University of the Arts, Faculty of Fine Arts, Art Studies Department in 1969, Yukie Osumi studied the fundamentals and expressive power of tankin from metalwork master Ikkoku Kashima.<\/p>\n<h4>Shiro Sekiya<\/h4>\n<p><figure id=\"attachment_8411\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-8411\" style=\"width: 2560px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/kogei-japonica.com\/media\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/shiro-sekiya-scaled.webp\" alt=\"Shiro Sekiya metalwork\" width=\"2560\" height=\"1236\" class=\"size-full wp-image-8411\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-8411\" class=\"wp-caption-text\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nihonkogeikai.or.jp\/works\/15354\/\" rel=\"noopener nofollow \" target=\"_blank\">Source: Japan Kogei Association<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure><br \/>\nFrom Shiro Sekiya, she learned meticulous craftsmanship and a thorough approach to sculptural beauty.<\/p>\n<h4>Moriyuki Katsura<\/h4>\n<p><iframe width=\"560\" height=\"315\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/5tZt1wkyZ2w?si=HSmeK3-3xpRIBph4\" title=\"YouTube video player\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><br \/>\nFrom Moriyuki Katsura, she learned advanced decorative techniques including nunome-z\u014dgan.<\/p>\n<p>The teachings of these three masters became Yukie Osumi&#8217;s technical foundation and support for her subsequent unique expression.<br \/>\nParticularly, the minute work of nunome-z\u014dgan became established at the core of her style as a signature expressive technique.<\/p>\n<p>In addition to the solid foundation learned from her masters, by fusing her unique sensibility as a female artist, Yukie Osumi has created works that harmonize tradition and innovation.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Recognition_at_the_Japan_Traditional_Kogei_Exhibition\"><\/span>Recognition at the Japan Traditional K\u014dgei Exhibition<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Yukie Osumi has repeatedly achieved selections and awards at the Japan Traditional K\u014dgei Exhibition, establishing her reputation as a leading figure in the metalwork field.<br \/>\nThrough this, she became deeply involved in the activities of the Japan Kogei Association, attracting attention as an artist who would carry the next generation.<\/p>\n<p>Based on such domestic recognition and activities, Yukie Osumi continues the transmission of tankin techniques and exploration of new expression.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"The_Significance_of_2015_Holder_Designation_A_Pioneering_Achievement_as_the_First_Woman_in_the_Metalwork_Field\"><\/span>The Significance of 2015 Holder Designation: A Pioneering Achievement as the First Woman in the Metalwork Field<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>In 2015, Yukie Osumi was designated as a holder of Important Intangible Cultural Property &#8220;tankin&#8221; (forging metal).<br \/>\nThis was a pioneering achievement as the first woman in Japan&#8217;s metalwork field, and an epoch-making event for the traditional craft world as a whole.<\/p>\n<p>Until then, metalwork had long been considered a male-centered world, but Yukie Osumi&#8217;s designation can be said to be proof that technical skill and artistic quality were properly evaluated beyond gender.<br \/>\nAdditionally, it became great encouragement for female artists of future generations, opening new paths in the craft world.<\/p>\n<p>Holder designation is not merely personal honor but demonstrates the expansion of diversity in the future of metalwork and new possibilities for technical transmission.<br \/>\nYukie Osumi&#8217;s presence continues to attract high attention even today as an existence that protects craft traditions while holding social significance.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Conclusion\"><\/span>Conclusion<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Yukie Osumi has created works that give metal vitality and poetic sentiment by freely manipulating tankin, ch\u014dkin, and nunome-z\u014dgan.<br \/>\nBased on the solid foundation learned from Ikkoku Kashima, Shiro Sekiya, and Moriyuki Katsura, she was highly acclaimed at the Japan Traditional K\u014dgei Exhibition.<\/p>\n<p>In 2015, she was designated as the first female holder of Important Intangible Cultural Property &#8220;tankin&#8221; (forging metal), and her journey can be said to have opened new paths in the traditional craft world.<br \/>\nHer representative works are collected in museums both domestically and internationally, continuing to move many people today.<br \/>\nYukie Osumi&#8217;s presence is a symbol of contemporary craft that inherits tradition while layering innovation, serving as a great guide for future generations.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Yukie Osumi is the first woman in Japan&#8217;s metal craft field to be designated as a Living National Treasure for &#8220;tankin&#8221; (forging metal). In the world of tankin, where metals such as copper and silver are hammered and shaped, she has established a unique style that combines both softness and strength. Behind this achievement lies<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":6668,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[102],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-6667","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-lnt"],"acf":[],"aioseo_notices":[],"amp_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/en.kogei-japonica.com\/media\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6667","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/en.kogei-japonica.com\/media\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/en.kogei-japonica.com\/media\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/en.kogei-japonica.com\/media\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/en.kogei-japonica.com\/media\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=6667"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/en.kogei-japonica.com\/media\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6667\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/en.kogei-japonica.com\/media\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/6668"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/en.kogei-japonica.com\/media\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=6667"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/en.kogei-japonica.com\/media\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=6667"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/en.kogei-japonica.com\/media\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=6667"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}