Katsura Morihito hails from a long line of metalwork artists dating back to the Edo period in the 1600s in Tokyo. Named after his family, The Katsura School became renowned for its fashionable metal accessories including obi sash clips and ornately decorated tobacco cases. Katsura is recognized for his remarkable skills in inlaying and decorative painting along with his lifelong commitment to Edo metal sculptures.
Selected Exhibitions:
2025 Asia Week, New York, US
2023 Japan Traditional Kōgei Annual Exhibition, Japan
2023 Living National Treasure Annual Exhibition, Japan
2019 20 Passions for Crafting Crafts, National Museum of Modern Art, Tokyo Craft Gallery, Japan
2018 Edo Metal Sculpture and the World of Metal Craft, Nerima Art Museum, Japan
2014 The Present of Living National Treasures, Tokyo National Museum, Japan
Selected Awards:
2025 Asia Week, New York, US
2009 Soukeikai Grand Award from the Soukeikai Foundation
1998 Received the Tokyo Governor Award at the 45th Japan Traditional Kōgei Exhibition
Japan Kogei Association Award at the 28th Metalworks Tratitional Kogei Exhibition
1995 Received the Commissioner for Cultural Affairs Award at the 25th Metalworks
Traditional Kogei Exhibition
1975 Received the Incentive Award at the 5th Metalworks Traditional Kogei Exhibiton ('77, '78, '79)
Selected Public Collections:
The Metropolitan Museum of Art | New York, US
MOA Museum of Modern Art | Shizuoka, Japan
Imperial Household Agency of Japan
Agency for Cultural Affairs, Government of Japan
National Crafts Museum | Ishikawa, Japan
Nerima Art Museum | Tokyo, Japan
Jingu Art Museum | Mie, Japan
Meiji Jingu | Tokyo, Japan
Yakushiji Temple | Nara, Japan
Matsushita Museum Gardens Shinshin-an | Kyoto, Japan