2021 Ronnie Prize Winner

Takuya TSUTSUMI

Kyoto

Vision

To reconstruct Wood and Lacquer culture by way of a multi-focused plan including reforestation, craft community development, inter-craft support and employing professional wood working crafts people.

Biography

Born in Kyoto in 1978 as the 4^th generation of a family of lacquer wholesalers, Tsutsumi was was raised within the traditional world of Japanese natural lacquer. After graduating from Hokkaido University, he joined his family business and has worked to develop a new blend called Korin lacquer. More than just a craft-related raw material, Tsutsumi sees urushi as a way to connect himself to people and nature, the past and the future, and to things that otherwise seem unrelated.

Commendations include:

2019 Film【 BEYOND TRADITION 漆 x alaia】 Best Documentation Short 2019 at Florida Surf Film Festival and Best Surf Film 2^nd Place at Toronto Beaches Film Festival

2020 The 3^rd Mitsui Colden Takumi Award

2021 Ronnie Prize at the Japan Traditional Craft Revitalization Contest