Panel Discussion

Opening Comments and Introduction of the Panelists

NATSUME(MC) ───── Good morning, ladies and gentlemen. We will now commence the announcement of results and the review session for the Ishikawa International Urushi Exhibition 2026. I am Satoshi NATSUME, Managing Director of Design Center Ishikawa and Deputy Chairperson of the Executive Committee of the Ishikawa International Urushi Exhibition, and I will be serving as the moderator for today’s proceedings. I look forward to your kind participation.

Today, we will announce the results of the Final Assessment held yesterday and invite our esteemed jury members to share their respective critiques of this year’s winning works.

First, allow me to introduce the jury members who participated in yesterday’s Final Assessment. Starting from the left as you face the stage: Professor Nagatoshi OHNISHI, Urushi Artist and Professor Emeritus at Tokyo University of the Arts. Next is Mr Shinichi YAMAMURA, Design Consultant; Mr YAMAMURA served as the Chairperson of the Jury for both the Preliminary and Final Assessments. Beside him is Mr Motomi KAWAKAMI, Designer and Representative of KAWAKAMI Design Room. Moving to the right from your perspective: Ms Teruko MITARAI, Representative of t.gallery and T-POT. Next is Professor Nobuyuki TANAKA, Urushi Artist and Professor Emeritus at Kanazawa College of Art. Beside him is Professor Shinya YAMAMURA, Urushi Artist and President at Kanazawa College of Art. Finally, on the far right, we have Mr Masahito SHIHO, Project Director of Design Center Ishikawa. These are our seven jury members. We thank you all for being here.

History of the Ishikawa International Urushi Exhibition

NATSUME(MC) ───── I will now provide a brief explanation of the overview and progress of the Ishikawa International Urushi Exhibition 2026.

This exhibition began in 1989 as an international open-entry competition aiming for a “New Expance for Lacquer,” and this year marks its 14th edition. By seeking new lifestyle proposals and innovative sensibilities using lacquer from both Japan and abroad, we aim to revitalize the lacquer industry, promote international exchange, and encourage a renewed appreciation for the appeal of lacquer – a material and technique that is kind to both people and the environment. Furthermore, with this edition, we also wish for the swiftest possible recovery of the Wajima lacquerware production areas, which were severely affected by the Noto Peninsula Earthquake and the subsequent heavy rains.

Regarding the status of submissions, we began accepting entries in August last year, and by the closing date of 3rd March this year, 215 works had been received from ten nations and regions. In April, five jurors (Professor Nagatoshi OHNISHI, Mr Shinichi YAMAMURA, Ms Teruko MITARAI, Professor Shinya YAMAMURA, and Mr Masahito SHIHO) conducted a Preliminary Assessment based on images, selecting 65 works from nine nations and regions.

Yesterday, the seven jurors introduced earlier conducted the Final Assessment using the 65 physical works, and the 14 awards, including the Grand Prize, Gold, and Silver Prizes, were decided. Due to physical constraints in this venue, we have displayed the three top-tier works (the Grand Prize and the two Gold Prizes) here at the front for you to observe.