SAITO Akira

Saito Akira’s father Saito Kyomei (1890-1938, Tokyo) was a wellknown metal artist who passed away when Akira was 18 years old. Akira continued his training under Sasaki Shodo (in 1960, Shodo was designated a Ningen Kokuho artist, 1882-1961) and Miyata Rando II (1902-1988), both working for his father Saito Kyomei. In 1949, aged 29, Akira was inspired when he first met Takamura Toyochika (1890-1972) and started learning metal art with Takamura Toyochika. Saito Akira held a responsible position as a chief artist at the Takamura Toyochika Studio. After his master Takamura’s death, Akira went on to carve out his own art and visited places along the Silk Road in China, the Middle East and Europe every year in search of different and distinct typologies of vases. He exhibited regularly at the Nitten Exhibitions and at the Nihon Dento Kogeikai (Japan Traditional Art Crafts Exhibitions). In 1993, Saito Akira was designated a Ningen Kokuho artist (holder of Intangible Cultural Asset), the highest accolade bestowed on artists.