Arakawa (MC) ───── Good morning ladies and gentlemen. We would like to begin the Special Symposium for the Ishikawa International Urushi Exhibition 2014. I am Mr. Arakawa, the Deputy Chairperson of the Executive Committee of this exhibition and Managing Director of the Design Center Ishikawa. I hope this symposium serves as an opportunity to exchange your opinions and comments on the exhibition. I would like to thank the jury members for traveling from their home countries to Ishikawa and conducting the difficult task of selecting the award winners from a very competitive field.
We are happy to welcome such world renowned panelists. I hope the audience enjoys this rare opportunity of listening to their stimulating discussions and thought-provoking opinions. Please feel free to ask questions and make comments at the end of the discussion. I would now like to introduce all the panelists who took part in selecting the award winners.
First, Professor Nagatoshi Ohnishi is an Urushi artist and Professor Emeritus of Tokyo National University of Fine Arts and Music.
Next, Mr. Kenji Ekuan is one of the most renowned industrial designers in Japan.
Next, Mr. Fumio Mae, as you have already known, is a Living Important Intangible Cultural Asset and an Urushi artist in the field of the Chinkin carving technique.
Next, Mr. Shinichi Yamamura is a Design Consultant and the President of Cobo Design Co., Ltd.
Next, Mr. Ryoichi Komatsu is Professor Emeritus the Kanazawa College of Art.
Mr Kwon Sang-Oh, who worked as a juror yesterday, is absent today.

Arakawa (MC) ───── I would like to briefly discuss the history of this exhibition and its current goals. This exhibition began in 1989 and was originally known as “The International Exhibition of Urushi Ware.” It was opened to the public and accepted world-wide entries. This year, we celebrate the exhibition’s 10th anniversary. We are constantly pursuing new prospects of Urushi ware from the perspective of design and functionality in our everyday life. We have and will continue to welcome participation from both home and abroad. Our hope for this exhibition is to help revitalize Urushi-related industries and promote international exchanges in the field of Urushi.
In honor of the 10th anniversary, we newly established two categories for entries; Design Category and Art Category.
In November 2013, we welcomed entries from all over the world to the exhibition with the theme of “The Future of Urushi Ware”. 207 works were submitted from 11 nations and regions. A Preliminary Assessment was held on May 23 rd 2014 by a jury of panelists. The panel members included: Nagatoshi Ohnishi, Ryoichi Komatsu, Shinichi Yamamura and Teruko Mitarai. In the Preliminary Assessment, panel members conducted a thorough review of each applicant’s digital images. After thoughtful consideration and thorough discussion of each applicant’s work, 72 works from these 11 nations and regions were then selected. Among 72 selected works, one work was declined. For the Final Assessment, 71 works were sent to the Executive Office.
At the Final Assessment held yesterday, jury members selected the award winners. This was an incredibly difficult process. However, after much deliberation they finally posted their results. The Grand Prize, 10th Exhibition Special Memorial Prize and Gold Prize winners are displayed in front of you, so that you can listen to the discussion while looking at the four works. The rest of the award winners are in the material for today’s round table discussion. We would now like to begin the symposium. Professor Nagatoshi Ohnishi will be today’s moderator.
He will report both assessments and later each panelist will make comment on each award winner. We would like to hear their expectation toward the Future of Urushi Ware.