Question ───── I am Hiroyuki Yoshida from Wajima. Thank you for evaluating my work. Since 2005 I have worked exclusively on the Ichimatsu (checkered) patterns, and though this is only my fourth piece, for the past twelve years I have been continuously developing my technique. Although created for general consumption, all my efforts have gone into trying to express my individuality in my works. I think it is a good sign for me that the logos for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics have checkered patterns. I have a question to Ms Setsuko Yamada. I would like to get your thoughts on if works such as mine could be used for the Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics?

Yamada ───── I have followed your career for a long time. Kimono with Ichimatsu (checkered) patterns are considered rather plain and yet they are appreciated by many people. However, potential customers don’t often buy the kimono as they are thought to be out of reach. But in the case of this work, I can imagine arranging Osechi (New Year’s special food) on the Ichimatsu patterned plates on the table.
As for the Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics, many foreign visitors will come to Japan for that. It might be too much to use Ichimatsu everywhere, but by utilizing the patterns in different ways, products that are simple to handle and easy to take home can be produced, such as a set of Nozoki (tiny plates) like Kenzan’s Iroe Oranda Utsushi Ichimatsu-mon.
I was consulted once by a glass artist because the glass works were not selling well. I proposed the idea of making beautiful small glass plates called ‘Jewels on the Table’. A special exhibition was held with many lovely small plates arranged on a table. The visitors to the exhibition bought one or more glass plates as if they were buying jewelry. So you can improve and develop this Ichimatsu work and make small boxes or sets of many Nozoki (tiny plates), to create simpler works to be easily purchased and admired. Compared to your previous works, these Ichimatsu patterns are drawn more softly and gently in this prize-winning work. I look forward to your future because this graceful drawing has come from your continued efforts.

Ohnishi ───── Any other questions?
I think that each juror’s comments and explanations include a lot of good advice. I hope that you all gained some inspiration, insight and new ideas for your work. I, myself, am impressed with the many good opinions, some of which can be utilized for your future work.
All the jurors have already talked about the importance of Urushi. However, there is no use in only talking about it without embodying it in physical works. I am assuming that today’s participants in the round table discussion are almost all artists. If you have obtained some ideas from our talk, I hope you will put it into practice. Make the most of every opportunity, including the next Urushi exhibition.
The next exhibition will be held in three years time. During these three years, I hope to see the changes of this new era of Urushi. The time will definitely come when the importance of Urushi art draws public attention. Urushi is an eternal material. As long as Japan exists, Urushi culture will never disappear from Japanese people’s minds. I am looking forward to the next exhibition. I hope you will also meet many artists and talk with them and continue the challenge. I already asked the Design Center Ishikawa to hold events to talk with each other once or twice during the three years before the next exhibition. I hope you will continue to make efforts to make the best of Urushi. Thank you for participating in the round table discussion.

Arakawa ───── Professor Ohnishi, and all the jurors, thank you very much for your precious and stimulating comments. Urushi is gentle to people and eco-friendly. As the title of the exhibition encourages, we will continue to explore the future of Urushi, so that Urushi art will spread throughout the world. Thank you for your continuous support.
Thank you to all the participants of today’s round table discussion for listening to the comments. I would also like to mention that the Ishikawa International Urushi Exhibition 2017 will be held at the Shiinoki Cultural Complex, Ishikawa Prefecture from October 13th through October 25th, 2017. In addition, new products and works from Urushi ware producing regions of Japan as well as the Design Center Ishikawa Collection will be introduced at the Special Exhibition. This exhibition will be held from October 5th through December 6th, 2017 at the Ishikawa Prefectural Museum of Traditional Arts and Crafts. The Ishikawa International Urushi Exhibition 2017 will also be held at the Ishikawa Wajima Urushi Art Museum as a visiting exhibition from November 11th, 2017, through to January 14th, 2018.
I hope you can keep today’s comments in mind as you visit the exhibitions. Already 2020 has been mentioned. We hope Urushi artists will take up the challenge for the next exhibition and explore a new world of Urushi. We will now bring the symposium to a close. Thank you so much for your attention.
Let us give the jurors a round of applause.