Born to established and esteemed urushi (lacquer) artist Murose Shunji (1911-1989), the young Murose became aware from an early age of the need to bridge two worlds: that of tradition and that of forced adaptation to a Westernized lifestyle.
Murose learned urushi in earnest at the Tokyo University of the Arts, and studied under the urushi master and Living National Treasure Matsuda Gonroku (1896-1986). Gonroku’s principle student, Taguchi Yoshikuni (1923-1998), was also Murose’s mentor. Under their tutelage, Murose learned as a craftsman about the rich history and techniques of urushi.
As an artist, he followed the artistic spirit of Matsuda Gonroku, and especially of Taguchi, to refine and develop his own working styles. His works are deeply rooted in tradition while his designs explore new ways of expressing the beauty of urushi that speaks to the modern world. Apart from his creative works, he devotes his time in Japan as well as abroad to the restoration of cultural assets. In 2008, he was designated Living National Treasure.
Selected Exhibitions
2025 Asia Week New York, US
2024 Salon Art + Design, New York, US
Asia Week New York, US
2023 Japan Traditional Kōgei Annual Exhibition, Japan
2023 Living National Treasure Annual Exhibition, Japan
2020 "Craft 2020 - Shapes of Nature and Beauty" Exhibition, Tokyo, National Museum, Japan
2019 World of Living National Treasure Kazumi Murose, MOA Museum, Japan
2017 Solo Exhibition of Lacquered Doors at the Front Entrance of MOA Museum Solo Exhibition, Embassy of Japan, London, UK
2016 Crafts - Creation of Kogei - Living National Treasure Exhibition, Wako, Tokyo, Japan
2014 "Present State of Living National Treasures" Exhibition, Tokyo National Museum, Japan
2013 "From Crafts to KOGEI" Exhibition, National Museum of Modern Art, Crafts Gallery, Tokyo, Japan
Selected Awards
2021 Order of the Rising Sun, Silver Rays
2008 Medal with Purple Ribbon
2006 Japan Cultural Arts Promotion Award
2002 49th Japan Traditional Crafts Exhibition, Japan, Kogei Association Incentive Award
2000 47th Japan Traditional Crafts Exhibition, Tokyo, Governor's Award
1985 2nd Japan Traditional Lacquerware Exhibition, Japan Kogei Association Award
32nd Japan Traditional Crafts Exhibition, Japan Kogei Association Award Incentive Award
Selected Public Collections
Agency for Cultural Affairs | Japan
MOA Museum | Shizuoka, Japan
Ise Shrine | Mie, Japan
The Metropolitan Museum of Art | New York, US
Victoria & Albert Museum | London, UK
British Museum | London, UK
Tokyo University of the Arts | Japan
Tokyo National Museum, Crafts Gallery | Japan
Japan National Museum of Modern Art
Berlin Nichidokai Hall | Germany
Kyushu Sangyo University | Fukuoka, Japan
Narukawa Art Museum | Ishikawa, Japan
Toyota City Kaorino Museum | Japan
Kōtōhiragu Shrine | Kagawa, Japan
Jingu Museum of Fine Arts | Mie, Japan
Atsuta Shrine | Aichi, Japan
Yuten-ji Temple, Tokyo, Japan