An was an artist who was officially appointed by the Imperial Household Agency of Japan to create works of art for the Tokyo Imperial Palace and other imperial residences.

History The system came into being during the Meiji period in 1890 and was discontinued after the end of World War II. From 1890 to 1944, seventy-nine individuals were appointed to the position, from both the fine and decorative arts. These tended to be artists who had already had a long and distinguished career. The programme was created to promote Japanese art, inspire new generations of artists, and preserve old techniques.

Imperial Household Artists received 100 yen each year. They were expected to submit one example of their work on being appointed and to accept commissions from the Imperial Household Agency. Some of the works commissioned were for presentation to foreign dignitaries. Many presentation wares were commissioned and then put into storage, to be gifted when the need came. Often these wares would bear the Imperial crest, a sixteen-petalled chrysanthemum.

In 1912, all twenty-four of the current artists were commissioned to create gifts for the Meiji Emperor to celebrate his 61st birthday. The Emperor died before the presentation could take place, so the items were placed in the Imperial Household Museum, which later became the Tokyo National Museum.

Most pieces of work cannot be seen in public except for some in the Museum of the Imperial Collections, as well as pieces in the Kiyomizu Sannenzaka Museum (ja), the Tokyo National Museum and the Khalili Collection of Japanese Art.

Important artists are still designated and protected by the government under the system of Living National Treasures.

List of artists Full nameSpecialtyAppointment dateDeath dateTazaki Sōunpainting2 October 1890"Gazette" No. 2191, October 16, 1897.1 September 1898Mori Kansaipainting2 October 18902 June 1894Shibata Zeshinlacquerware 2 October 189013 July 1891Kanō Eitokupainting2 October 189029 January 1891Morizumi Tsuranapainting2 October 189026 February 1892Date Yasuketextile art2 October 189020 March 1892Kano Natsuoengraving2 October 18903 February 1898Hashimoto Gahōpainting2 October 189013 January 1908Takamura Kōunsculpture2 October 189010 October 1934Ishikawa Komeisculpture2 October 189030 July 1913Noguchi Yukokupainting25 September 1893"Gazette" No. 3076, September 28, 1868.26 June 1898Taki Kateipainting25 September 189328 September 1901Kōno Baireipainting25 September 18932 February 1895Seifu Yohei IIIceramics25 September 189315 July 1914Kishi Chikudōpainting30 June 1896"Gazette" No. 3901, July 1, 1897.27 July 1900Yamana Nukiyoshipainting30 June 189611 June 1902Kawabata Gyokushōpainting30 June 189614 February 1913Ito Heizaemonarchitecture30 June 189611 May 1913Unno Shomin gold carving30 June 18968 October 1915Miyagawa Kozanceramics30 June 189624 May 1916Namikawa Sōsukecloisonné30 June 189614 February 1910Namikawa Yasuyukicloisonné30 June 189614 February 1927Suzuki Chokichimetalwork30 June 189629 January 1919Kawanobe Itchomaki-e30 June 18965 September 1910Tadashi Ikedamaki-e30 June 18967 March 1903Kawashima Jinbeitextile art9 February 1898"Gazette" No. 4380, February 10, 1891.5 May 1910Araki Kanpopainting21 July 1900"Gazette" No. 5116, July 23, 1868.21 July 1915Naohiko Kumagaipainting16 April 1904"Gazette" No. 6236, April 18, 1897.8 March 1913Mochizuki Gyokusenpainting16 April 1904 16 September 1913Imao Keinenpainting16 April 1904 5 October 1924Noguchi Shōhinpainting16 April 190417 February 1917Takeuchi Kyūichisculpture4 April 1906"Official Gazette" No. 6826, 5 April 1906.24 September 1916Shirayama Shosailacquerware4 April 1906 7 August 1923Kagawa Katsuhirogold carving4 April 1906 15 January 1917Miyamoto Kanenoribladesmithing4 April 190622 October 1926Nakai Keishocarving4 April 190630 September 1909Gassan Sadakazubladesmithing4 April 190611 July 1918Kishi Kokeidesign4 April 19063 May 1922Kuroda Seikiyōga (Western-style painting)18 October 191016 July 1924Ogawa Kazumasaphotography18 October 19107 September 1929Takeuchi Seihōpainting18 December 1913"Gazette" No. 419, December 19, 1912.23 August 1942Tsukada Shukyoengraving18 December 191329 December 1918Kōgyō Terasakipainting17 June 191711 February 1919Tomoto Koboripainting17 June 19171 October 1931Kawai Gyokudōpainting17 June 191730 June 1958Kanzan Shimomurapainting17 June 191710 May 1930Tomioka Tessaipainting17 June 19173 December 1923Yamamoto Shunkyopainting17 June 191711 July 1933Taketarō Shinkaisculpture17 June 191712 March 1927Ito Suzanceramics17 June 191724 September 1920Suwa Sozanceramics17 June 19179 February 1922Muneyuki Hiratametalwork17 June 191725 February 1920Sasaki Iwajiroarchitecture17 June 1917"Gazette" No. 1458, June 12, 1912.10 October 1936Yokoyama Taikannihonga (Japanese-style painting)30 June 1931Gazette," No. 1351, July 2, 1988.26 January 1958Akatsuka Jitokulacquerware19301936Hashimoto Kansetsunihonga3 December 193426 February 1945Yasuda Yukihikonihonga3 December 193429 April 1978Keigetsu Kikuchinihonga3 December 19349 September 1955Eisaku Wadayōga3 December 19343 January 1959Fujishima Takejiyōga3 December 193419 March 1943Okada Saburōsukeyōga3 December 193423 September 1939Choun Yamazakisculpture3 December 19344 June 1954Hazan Itayacrafts3 December 193410 October 1963Hozuma Katoricrafts3 December 193431 January 1954Nanzan Shimizucrafts3 December 1934"Gazette" No. 2378, December 4, 1934.7 December 1948Nishiyama Suishonihonga1 July 194430 March 1958Inshō Dōmotonihonga1 July 19445 September 1975Kiyokata Kaburaginihonga1 July 19442 March 1972Uemura Shōennihonga1 July 194427 August 1949Seison Maedanihonga1 July 194427 October 1977Matsubayashi Keigetsunihonga1 July 194422 May 1963Kokei Kobayashinihonga1 July 19443 April 1957Komuro Suiunnihonga1 July 194430 March 1945Kanayama Heizōyōga1 July 194415 July 1964Hiromitsu Nakazawayōga1 July 19448 September 1964Ryūzaburō Umeharayōga1 July 194416 January 1986Sōtarō Yasuiyōga1 July 194414 December 1955Minami Kunzōyōga1 July 19446 January 1950Fumio Asakurasculpture1 July 194418 April 1964Hirakushi Denchūsculpture1 July 1944“Gazette” No. 5239, July 3, 1947.30 December 1979

References

https://www.japantimes.co.jp/culture/2013/11/27/arts/the-imperial-household-of-tradition/

Sources