
TOP / About Namiki / People who make Namiki Kokkokai
“Kokkokai” are a group of Maki-e artisans formed in 1931
centered around Gonroku Matsuda, who later became a living national treasure.
The name “Kokkokai” was derived from a quote by Ryosuke Namiki the founder,
“In the way Sumo is Japan’s national sport, Maki-e is the nation’s light.”
Declarative statement at the inauguration of Kokkokai
Even today, Maki-e artisans from inside and outside the company,
who have inherited Matsuda’s will, are making lacquerware around the country.
Kokkokai or the name of the artisans have been inscribed on each individual piece of Namiki work.

Kyusai Yoshida
Signature Kyusai

Hyakusen Murata
Signature Hyakusen

Kazuo Nihei
Signature Kazuo

Yasunori Sakamoto
Signature Yasunori

Nobuko Sakamoto
Signature Shinsai

Katsuhiko Urade
Signature Katsuhiko

Shouji Michikami
Signature Shouji

Masaru Hayashi
Signature Masaru

Yumi Hayashi
Signature Yumi

Yasuji Sumi
Signature Yasuji

Mamoru Wakabayashi
Signature Mamoru

Yutaka Sato
Signature Yutaka

Masahiro Yamada
Signature Masahiro

Misa Seki
Signature Misa

Seiki Chida
Signature Seiki

Michifumi Kawaguchi
Signature Michifumi

Kayo Endo
Signature Kayo

Masato Sato
Signature Masato

Hideki Furuhara
Signature Shotaku

Juna Oka
Signature Juna
The Maki-e studio inside PILOT Corporation’s Hiratsuka plant in Hiratsuka, Kanagawa is in brick building,
a late Taisho Era (1912-1926) which was originally used for the former Second Navy Ammunitions Arsenal.
This building, which has value as a cultural heritage conveying history,
has been reconstructed as a studio while keeping its appearance from former days.