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.