About Setsuro Takahashi
Category ： 安曇野高橋節郎記念美術館
Takahashi Setsuro: A Brief Profile
Born 1914 in what is now Azumino city in Nagano Prefecture, Takahashi Setsuro is a renowned urushi (lacquerware) artist. He is a recipient of the Order of Culture and has been recognized by the Japanese government for his contributions to culture. He graduated in japanning from the Crafts Department of the Tokyo Fine Arts School (today Tokyo National University of Fine Arts and Music), where he also completed a postgraduate program. He was a member of the Japan Art Academy and Professor Emeritus of the Tokyo National University of Fine Arts and Music. He was also adviser to the Nitten Exhibition, full-time adviser to the Contemporary Arts and Crafts Association, and chairman of the Shinshu Art Association.
A Brief Chronology
| 1914 | Born Sept. 14 in Kita Hotaka Village (today Hotaka,Azumino City) Nagano Prefecture, the third son of Takahashi Taichi and Umemi. | |
| 1921 | age7 | Enrolls in Kita Hotaka Village Elementary School. |
| 1923 | 9 | Transfers to the Elementary School of Nagano Normal School. Boards at Hopelarge Vicarage. |
| 1924 | 10 | Transfers to the Asahimachi Division of Matsumoto Higher Elementary School. |
| 1927 | 13 | Graduates from the Asahimachi Division of Matsumoto Higher Elementary School and enrolls in Matsumoto Middle School (today Matsumoto Fukashi High School). |
| At Matsumoto Middle School | Meets art teacher Miyasaka Masaru. Under his warm, skilful tutelage, Takahashi discovers the pleasure of drawing. He also devotes himself to athletics as a member of the track-and-field club Tenma-kai, representing the school at interscholastic meets. He accompanies Yuki Somei, a friend of his father’s from his days with the imperial guard regiment, on a sketching trip to Nakabusa Spa. The sight of his older companion constantly sketching away makes a great impression. | |
| 1932 | 18 | Graduates from Matsumoto Middle School. |
| 1933 | 19 | Enrolls in Tokyo Fine Arts School (today Tokyo National University of Fine Arts and Music). |
| At art school | Regularly visits the Nika Association Institute and studies sketching and oil painting under the likes of Kumagai Morikazu, Arishima Ikuma and Ishii Hakutei. Is also heavily influenced by the surrealist works of Koga Harue, whose home he visits. Plays three-quarter wing on the school’s “Ueno no Mori” rugby club. | |
| In 1938 Takahashi graduates in japanning from the Crafts Department of Tokyo Fine Arts School. He submits a clothes chest as his graduation project and is awarded a silver watch. | ||
| Advances to the School’s postgraduate program. | ||
| In April of the same year he organizes the Katachi-kai with Kaneko Tokujiro, Kurose Hideo and Kosugi Jiro. The group holds the “First Katachi-kai Exhibition” at the Ginza Shiseido Gallery. | ||
| In November he presents the “First Exhibition of Urushi Flower Vases by Takahashi Setsuro” in conjunction with the Sogetsu school of ikebana headed by Teshigawara Sofu. | ||
| In 1939 he receives the Practical Arts and Crafts Incentive Award at the Fourth Exhibition of Practical Arts and Crafts. | ||
| 1940 | 26 | Completes the postgraduate program of the Tokyo Fine Arts School. |
| Submits “Urushi Byobu (Mobile Mural, Screen) with Image of Field Poppies” for display at the exhibition celebrating the 2600th anniversary of the accession of Japan’s first emperor. This is his first piece to be accepted for a major exhibition. | ||
| 1941 | 27 | “Urushi Byobu (Screen) with Image of Quince” is selected for the Fourth New Bunten Exhibition. It receives a special citation and is purchased by the government. |
| 1942 | 28 | “Single Panel Urushi Screen with Image of Morning & Evening” is selected for the Fifth New Bunten Exhibition. |
| 1943 | 29 | Urushi Sideboard with Image of the Seven Flowers of Autumn” is selected for the Sixth New Bunten Exhibition. |
| 1944 | 30 | “Urushi Box with Image of Red Plum Blossoms & White Cherry Blossoms” is selected for the Special Wartime Exhibition. |
| 1946 | 32 | Takahashi’s “Notebook Box with Image of Chrysanthemums & Wovenfence in Maki-e” is accepted for the First Nitten Exhibition after the war (maki-e is lacquer sprinkled with gold or silver powder). |
| “Urushi Box with Image of Bamboo Grove in Maki-e” is selected for the Second Nitten Exhibition. | ||
| 1947 | 33 | “Floral Urushi Box” is selected for the Third Nitten Exhibition. |
| 1949 | 35 | Decorative Urushi Panel (framed) with image of “Constellations of the Flowers” is selected for the Fifth Nitten Exhibition. |
| Takahashi is hired by Maruni Urushi Co., Ltd. to design lacquered metalware for export and for sale to families of US troops stationed in Japan. | ||
| 1951 | 37 | Urushi Panel “Constellations” is selected for the Seventh Nitten Exhibition. The work receives a special citation and wins the Asakura Award. |
| 1952 | 38 | Takahashi establishes the Creative Arts and Crafts Association in conjunction with Somekawa Tetsunosuke, Saji Tadashi, Hasuda Shugoro and others. The group organizes an exhibition, the First Creative Arts and Crafts Exhibition, at the Shiseido Gallery, which features several of the artist’s pieces: “Serving Vessel” and Vase A,” Vase B,” “Vase C,” “Vase D” and “Vase E.” |
| (The Association’s subsequent exhibitions take place at Wako in the Ginza.) | ||
| Urushi Panel “The City and Fire Works” is selected for the Eighth Nitten Exhibition without having to go through the screening process. | ||
| Takahashi creates such hit craftware items as the “Lucky Plate” as a member of the design team of Nippon Drum Co., Ltd. | ||
| 1953 | 39 | Urushi Byobu “Forest” is selected for the Ninth Nitten Exhibition. Takahashi serves on the selection committee. |
| 1954 | 40 | Framed Urushi “The Dance” is selected for the Tenth Nitten Exhibition. |
| The Matsumoto Kaiundo Gallery presents the exhibition “Takahashi Setsuro’s Urushi Paintings.” | ||
| 1955 | 41 | Mitsukoshi department store in Nihonbashi hosts the first exhibition devoted exclusively to Takahashi’s works. |
| Urushi Byobu “Life in the City” is selected for the Eleventh Nitten Exhibition. | ||
| 1956 | 42 | “Cosmetic Box with Image of Bamboo Grove in Maki-e” is displayed at the Japan-Ussr Friendship Exhibition and purchased by the Soviet government. |
| Urushi Byobu “There’s a Harvest Even in the City” is selected for the Twelfth Nitten Exhibition. It is purchased by the Kawai Gyokudo Fund. | ||
| 1957 | 43 | Mitsukoshi department store in Nihonbashi hosts the second exhibition devoted exclusively to Takahashi’s works. |
| Urushi Panel “Distant Nostalgia” is selected for the Thirteenth Nitten Exhibition. | ||
| 1958 | 44 | Takahashi is appointed to the advisory council of the Nitten. |
| Urushi Sideboard “No. 58″ is selected for the First New Nitten Exhibition. Takahashi serves on the selection committee. | ||
| 1959 | 45 | Urushi Byobu “Tales Told by the Cedar Trees” is selected for the Second New Nitten Exhibition. |
| Mitsukoshi in Nihonbashi presents the “Second Exhibition of Sgraffito Urushi Pictures by Takahashi Setsuro.” | ||
| 1960 | 46 | Urushi Byobu “Mirage” is selected for the Third New Nitten Exhibition and wins the Minister of Education Award. |
| Takahashi establishes Enshin, a reorganized version of the Creative Arts and Crafts Association, in conjunction with Hasuda Shugoro, Chosa Yoshiyuki, Saji Tadashi, Tsuji Koten, Sano Takeo, Kiyomizu Kyubee and others. The group holds its first exhibition at Takashimaya in Nihonbashi. | ||
| 1961 | 47 | rushi Byobu “Mirage: A Floating City” is selected for the Fourth New Nitten Exhibition. Takahashi serves on the selection committee. |
| The Second Enshin Exhibition takes place. | ||
| Takahashi organizes the Contemporary Arts and Crafts Association. | ||
| 1962 | 48 | Nihonbashi Gallery in Tokyo presents the “Takahashi Setsuro Exhibition”, which features several monotype urushi prints (framed) highlighting the unique features of that medium: “A Fault in the Earth” A, B, C and D, “Passing Clouds” A, B and C, “Layered Soil” A, B, C and D, “Shreds of Cloud” A, B, C and D, “Layered Clouds” A, B, C and D, and “Cliff” A and B. |
| Urushi Byobu “A Fault in the Earth” is selected for the Fifth New Nitten Exhibition. | ||
| Urushi Panel “Vision” is featured at the First Japan Contemporary Arts and Crafts Exhibition. | ||
| Urushi Panel “Still Life” is displayed at the Third Enshin Exhibition. | ||
| The First Wako Exhibition takes place. | ||
| 1963 | 49 | Urushi Panel “Fossil” is selected for the Sixth New Nitten Exhibition. Takahashi serves on the selection committee. |
| Urushi Panel “Vestiges” is featured at the Second Japan Contemporary Arts and Crafts Exhibition. | ||
| Urushi Painting “Still Life” is featured at the Goto Exhibition. | ||
| Monotype Urushi Prints “Touch” A, B and C are shown at the Fourth Enshin Exhibition. | ||
| Urushi Panels “Still Life with View of Town” and “City of Flowers” are featured at the Second Wako Exhibition. | ||
| 1964 | 50 | Takahashi’s work is featured in the Japan Contemporary Arts and Crafts touring exhibition to Mexico and the US. |
| Urushi Byobu “Tale of the Fossils” is selected for the Seventh New Nitten Exhibition. | ||
| Urushi Panel “An Ancient Tomb” is shown at the Third Japan Contemporary Arts and Crafts Exhibition. | ||
| “Urushi Serving Vessel with Image of Red Plum Blossoms & White Cherry Blossoms” is displayed at the Thirteenth Goto Exhibition. | ||
| Urushi Panels “Fossils and the Deep Sea” A and B are featured at the Fifth Enshin Exhibition. | ||
| Urushi Panels “Still Life with View of Lake,” “Woman with Fruit” and “City Woman” are featured at the Third Wako Exhibition. | ||
| 1965 | 51 | Urushi Byobu “Tale of the Fossils,” displayed at the previous year’s New Nitten Exhibition, wins the 21st Japan Art Academy Prize and is purchased by the Academy. |
| Takahashi’s work is displayed at the Berlin Art Festival. | ||
| Urushi Byobu “Memoirs of a Fossil” is selected for the Eighth New Nitten Exhibition. | ||
| Urushi Panel “Abridged Tale of the Fossils” is featured at the Fourth Japan Contemporary Arts and Crafts Exhibition. | ||
| Urushi Panels “Still Life with View of Forest” and “The Interior of a Room” are displayed at the Sixth Enshin Exhibition. | ||
| Urushi Panel “Still Life with View of Horizon” is shown at the Fourth Wako Exhibition. | ||
| 1966 | 52 | Rome hosts the Japan Contemporary Arts and Crafts touring exhibition. Takahashi visits Europe to represent the Association. |
| Urushi Byobu “Forest of Fossils” is selected for the Ninth New Nitten Exhibition. | ||
| Urushi Panel “Song of the Fossils” is featured at the Fifth Japan Contemporary Arts and Crafts Exhibition. | ||
| Inoue Department Store in Matsumoto hosts the “Takahashi Setsuro Exhibition.” | ||
| Urushi Panels “Apartment Complex in the Distance,” “Landscape with View of Horizon” and “Still Life” are featured at the Seventh Enshin Exhibition. | ||
| Urushi Serving Vessel “Flowers” is displayed at the Fifteenth Goto Exhibition. | ||
| Urushi Panels “Still Life in the Forest” and “Harvest” are featured at the Fifth Wako Exhibition. | ||
| 1967 | 53 | Takahashi’s work is featured in the Japan Contemporary Arts and Crafts touring exhibition to London and Montreal. |
| Urushi Byobu “Saga of the Fossil” is selected for the Tenth New Nitten Exhibition. Takahashi serves on the selection committee. | ||
| Urushi Panel “Flock of Fossils” is shown at the Sixth Japan Contemporary Arts and Crafts Exhibition. | ||
| Urushi Panels “Venice: Impressions of a Journey” and “Notre-Dame: Impressions of a Journey” are featured at the Eight Enshin Exhibition. | ||
| Urushi Painting “Flowers” (framed) is shown at the Sixteenth Goto Exhibition. | ||
| Urushi Panels “Impressions of a Journey” A and B are shown at the Sixth Wako Exhibition. | ||
| 1968 | 54 | Takahashi’s work is featured in the Japan Contemporary Arts and Crafts touring exhibition to East Europe. |
| Urushi Byobu “A Sign of the Fossil” is selected for the Eleventh New Nitten Exhibition. | ||
| Urushi Panel “Belt of Fossils” is featured at the Seventh Japan Contemporary Arts and Crafts Exhibition and purchased by Tokyo Prefecture. | ||
| Urushi Panels “Grain and Still Life,” “Hydrangea” and “Flower Balloon” are displayed at the Ninth Enshin Exhibition. | ||
| Urushi Panel “Flowers and Lemon” is displayed at the Seventeenth Goto Exhibition. | ||
| Urushi Panels “Pansies and Horizon,” “Still Life in the Forest” and “Flowers” are featured at the Seventh Wako Exhibition. | ||
| 1969 | 55 | Urushi Byobu “Vision of the Fossils” is selected for the First Nitten Exhibition following its reorganization. Takahashi is appointed to the board. |
| Takahashi’s work is featured in the Japan Contemporary Arts and Crafts touring exhibition to San Francisco and Central and South America. | ||
| Urushi Panel “Strata” is displayed at the Eighth Japan Contemporary Arts and Crafts Exhibition. | ||
| Urushi Panels “Mirage,” “Still Life with View of Hills” and “Hydrangea” are shown at the Tenth Enshin Exhibition. | ||
| Urushi Panels “Still Life by Window” and “Still Life” are featured at the Eighth Wako Exhibition. | ||
| 1970 | 56 | Urushi Byobu “Reflection of the Fossils” is selected for the Second Nitten Exhibition. Takahashi serves on the selection committee. |
| Urushi Panel “Sea Strata” is featured at the Ninth Japan Contemporary Arts and Crafts Exhibition. | ||
| Urushi Panel “Orchid” is displayed at the Nineteenth Goto Exhibition. | ||
| Three Urushi Panels entitled “Flowers” are displayed at the Ninth Wako Exhibition. | ||
| 1971 | 57 | Urushi Byobu “Chronicle from Time Immemorial” is selected for the Third Nitten Exhibition. |
| Urushi Panel “Sea Stele” is displayed at the Tenth Japan Contemporary Arts and Crafts Exhibition. | ||
| Urushi Panel “Grain and Flowers” is displayed at the Twentieth Goto Exhibition. | ||
| Urushi Panels “Flowers” and “Still Life with View of Mountains” are shown at the Tenth Wako Exhibition. | ||
| 1972 | 58 | Urushi Byobu “Chronicle of the Cosmos” is selected for the Fourth Nitten Exhibition. Takahashi serves on the selection committee. |
| Urushi Panel “The Crest” is displayed at the Eleventh Japan Contemporary Arts and Crafts Exhibition. Takahashi assumes chairmanship of the Tokyo division of the Contemporary Arts and Crafts Association. | ||
| Urushi Panel “Still Life on Lake” is displayed at the Twenty-first Goto Exhibition. | ||
| 1973 | 59 | Urushi Byobu “Chronicle of the Gold Ring of the Sun” is selected for the Fifth Nitten Exhibition. |
| Urushi Panel “Distant Memory” is displayed at the Twelfth Japan Contemporary Arts and Crafts Exhibition. | ||
| Urushi Panel “Still Life” is featured at the Twenty-second Goto Exhibition. | ||
| 1974 | 60 | Urushi Byobu “Chronicle of a Distant Forest” is selected for the Sixth Nitten Exhibition. |
| Urushi Panel “Reminiscence of a Distant Forest” is featured at the Thirteenth Japan Contemporary Arts and Crafts Exhibition. | ||
| 1975 | 61 | Urushi Byobu “The Genesis of a Constellation” is selected for the Seventh Nitten Exhibition. Takahashi serves on the selection committee. |
| Urushi Panel “Tale of Lost Days” is displayed at the Fourteenth Japan Contemporary Arts and Crafts Exhibition. | ||
| Urushi Panel “Flowers” is displayed at the Twenty-fourth Goto Exhibition. | ||
| 1976 | 62 | Takahashi is appointed professor of arts at Tokyo National University of Fine Arts and Music. |
| Urushi Byobu “Reflections of an Ancient Tomb” is selected for the Eighth Nitten Exhibition. | ||
| Urushi Panel “Feast in a Distant Forest” is displayed at the Fifteenth Japan Contemporary Arts and Crafts Exhibition. | ||
| 1977 | 63 | Urushi Byobu “Assemblage of the Ancient Tombs” is selected for the Ninth Nitten Exhibition. |
| Urushi Panel “The Cosmos” is displayed at the Sixteenth Japan Contemporary Arts and Crafts Exhibition. | ||
| Takahashi is appointed to the management committee of the Tokyo Metropolitan Art Museum (a position he holds until 1986). | ||
| 1978 | 64 | Urushi Byobu “Ancient Tombs Cradled in the Mountains” is selected for the Tenth Nitten Exhibition. Takahashi serves on the selection committee. |
| Urushi Panel “The Guide Post of Life” is featured at the Seventeenth Japan Contemporary Arts and Crafts Exhibition. Takahashi is appointed chairman of the board of the Contemporary Arts and Crafts Association. | ||
| Urushi Panel “Twin Flowers” is featured at the Twenty-seventh Goto Exhibition. | ||
| 1979 | 65 | Urushi Byobu “Moonlit Tombs from a Distant Past” is selected for the Eleventh Nitten Exhibition. Takahashi serves as senior supervisor. |
| Urushi Panel “Vestiges of an Ancient Site” is featured at the Eighteenth Japan Contemporary Arts and Crafts Exhibition. | ||
| Urushi Byobu “Assemblage of the Ancient Tombs” is displayed at the “Exhibition of Modern Japanese Lacquerware” in the Crafts Gallery of the National Museum of Modern Art, Tokyo. | ||
| 1980 | 66 | Urushi Panel “Repose Under the Tree of Life” is selected for the Twelfth Nitten Exhibition. Takahashi serves on the selection committee. |
| Urushi Panel “Flower Banquet” is featured at the Nineteenth Japan Contemporary Arts and Crafts Exhibition. | ||
| Takahashi is appointed deputy chairman of the Japan Urushi Craft Association and receives a commendation for his achievements in the field of urushi. | ||
| 1981 | 67 | Urushi Panel “An Inviting Place Under the Tree of Life” is selected for the Thirteenth Nitten Exhibition. Takahashi is reappointed to the board. |
| Urushi Panel “Tale of Waiting for Spring” is featured at the Twentieth Japan Contemporary Arts and Crafts Exhibition. | ||
| The museum of Tokyo National University of Fine Arts and Music hosts the exhibition “Takahashi Setsuro: In Honor of His Impending Retirement.” Takahashi donates “Tale of Lost Days” to the museum. | ||
| A book of Takahashi’s works appears entitled “Urushi: The World of Black and Gold.” | ||
| Takahashi is recommended for membership in the Japan Art Academy. | ||
| 1982 | 68 | Urushi Byobu “Ancient Tombs Among Whispering Pines” is selected for the Fourteenth Nitten Exhibition. Takahashi chairs the selection committee and is appointed managing director of Nitten. |
| Urushi Panel “Sunshine on the Hills” is featured at the Twenty-first Japan Contemporary Arts and Crafts Exhibition. | ||
| Takahashi is appointed deputy chairman of the Contemporary Arts and Crafts Association. | ||
| He retires from his professorship at Tokyo National University of Fine Arts and Music. | ||
| He organizes a joint exhibition with Ohara Houn, head of the Ohara school of ikebana, at Matsuzakaya in the Ginza. | ||
| “Assemblage of the Ancient Tomb” is featured in the exhibition Modern Japanese Urushi held at the Altes Museum of the Berlin National Gallery and at the Museum of Arts and Crafts in Pillnitz, part of the Dresden State Art Collections. | ||
| Takahashi is named an Honorary Citizen of Hotaka Town (today Azumino City). | ||
| 1983 | 69 | Urushi Byobu “Milky Way Over the Ancient Tombs” is selected for the Fifteenth Nitten Exhibition. Takahashi serves on the selection committee. |
| Urushi Panel “Chronicle of Memory” is featured at the Twenty-second Japan Contemporary Arts and Crafts Exhibition. | ||
| Matsuya in the Ginza hosts the exhibition “Sketches.” Takahashi assumes the chairmanship of the Shinshu Art Association. | ||
| The Japanese Folk Museum in Matsumoto hosts the exhibition “Takahashi’s Works Selected Personally by the Artist.” He donates the Urushi Panel “An Inviting Place Under the Tree of Life” to the city of Matsumoto. He is awarded the Medal with Dark Blue Ribbon the following year. | ||
| The exhibition Takahashi Setsuro: “A World of Black and Gold” is held at the Suwa Maruei Department Store (Nanshin Nichinichi Newspaper). | ||
| 1984 | 70 | Urushi Byobu “Ancient Tombs of Many Seasons” is selected for the Sixteenth Nitten Exhibition. Takahashi serves on the selection committee. |
| Urushi Panel “Tale of Grain” is displayed at the Twenty-third Japan Contemporary Arts and Crafts Exhibition. | ||
| Matsuya in the Ginza hosts the exhibition “Takahashi Setsuro: Portraits of Northern Shinano.” | ||
| The Toyota Municipal Civic Center presents the exhibition Takahashi Setsuro: “A World of Black and Gold.” The artist donates 75 works, including Urushi Byobu and panels, to the city. | ||
| The Hall of Ceramics in Hotaka (today Azumino City) hosts the “Takahashi Setsuro Exhibition” to honor the thirtieth anniversary of the town’s amalgamation into a single municipality. | ||
| Takahashi appears on the program “The TV Museum” on Fuji Television. | ||
| 1985 | 71 | Urushi Byobu “Ancient Tombs of Eternal Serenity” is selected for the Seventeenth Nitten Exhibition. Takahashi serves on the selection committee. |
| Urushi Panel “Tale of the Spring” is featured at the Twenty-fourth Japan Contemporary Arts and Crafts Exhibition. | ||
| Takahashi is appointed to the expert committee of the Ministry of Education’s Deliberative Council on Establishment of Universities. | ||
| Appointed to the management commitment of the Nerima Art Museum. | ||
| The Takahashi Foundation for the Promotion of Art is established in Toyota. Takahashi receives the Toyota City Culture Award. | ||
| 1986 | 72 | Urushi Byobu “Eternal Recurrence of Constellations” is selected for the Eighteenth Nitten Exhibition. |
| Urushi Panel “A Song in Praise of the Wind and the Sun” is displayed at the Twenty-fifth Japan Contemporary Arts and Crafts Exhibition. | ||
| Matsuya in the Ginza presents the exhibition “Takahashi Setsuro’s Scenes of the Seasons: Bokusai Paintings and Poems.” | ||
| The Toyota Municipal Civic Center presents the exhibition “Takahashi Setsuro’s World of Romanticism.” | ||
| The Nagano Prefectural Shinano Art Museum presents the exhibition “Takahashi Setsuro’s World of Romanticism in Sparkling Black – Fifty Years of Urushi.” | ||
| Takahashi is awarded the Order of the Sacred Treasure, Third Class. | ||
| 1987 | 73 | Urushi Panel “Constellations of Infinity” is selected for the Nineteenth Nitten Exhibition. |
| Urushi Panel “Heavenly Blessing” is featured at the Twenty-sixth Japan Contemporary Arts and Crafts Exhibition. | ||
| Takashimaya hosts the exhibition “Takahashi Setsuro’s Sokin and Maki-e Works: An Exhibition in Honor of the Eightieth Anniversary” of the Takashimaya Art Division (Tokyo and Osaka). | ||
| Urushi Byobu “Ancient Tombs of Eternal Serenity” and Urushi Panel “A Song in Praise of the Wind and the Sun” are featured in the exhibition “Artistic Achievements of Instructors at the Tokyo National University of Fine Arts and Music from the Institution’s Reorganization Down to the Present Day: An Exhibition in Honor of the University’s Centenary.” | ||
| Completes the mural in Bokusai “The Stillness and Movement of Mountains and Rivers” at the Sangakuin Gokurakuji temple in Warabi, Saitama Prefecture. | ||
| 1988 | 74 | Urushi Byobu “Brilliant Constellation” is selected for the Twentieth Nitten Exhibition. Takahashi serves on the selection committee. |
| Urushi Panel “Sunny Day” is featured at the Twenty-seventh Japan Contemporary Arts and Crafts Exhibition. | ||
| The exhibition “The Stars, the Ocean and the Urushi of Takahashi Setsuro” is held at the Sanage Bonote Neighborhood Square in Toyota. | ||
| Urushi Byobu “Ancient Tombs of Many Seasons” is selected for the “Nitten Eightieth Anniversary Commemorative Exhibition” held at Matsuya in the Ginza. | ||
| 1989 | 75 | Urushi Byobu “Ancient Tombs of the Sun and the Moon” is selected for the Twenty-first Nitten Exhibition. |
| Urushi Panel “The Highlands” is featured at the Twenty-eighth Japan Contemporary Arts and Crafts Exhibition. | ||
| Matsuya in the Ginza hosts the exhibition “Takahashi Setsuro: The Sparkle of Mystery and Romance” sponsored by the Asahi Shimbun newspaper. | ||
| 1990 | 76 | Urushi Byobu “A Limpid Mountain” is selected for the Twenty-second Nitten Exhibition. |
| Urushi Panel “The Air is Full of Flowers” is featured at the Twenty-ninth Japan Contemporary Arts and Crafts Exhibition. | ||
| Takahashi is recognized by the Japanese government for his contributions to culture. | ||
| He is also commended by the Governor of Nagano Prefecture for his artistic accomplishments. | ||
| 1991 | 77 | Urushi Byobu “The Waltz of the Stars” is selected for the Twenty-third Nitten Exhibition. Takahashi serves on the selection committee. |
| Urushi Panel “Nature Gives Birth of All” is displayed at the Thirtieth Japan Contemporary Arts and Crafts Exhibition. | ||
| Urushi Panel “The Highlands” is displayed at the “Masterworks Exhibition in Honor of the Thirtieth Anniversary of the Contemporary Arts and Crafts Association.” | ||
| Takahashi serves as panelist at a symposium on the occasion of the exhibition “The Promise of Asian Urushi in the 21st Century: Contemporary Chinese Urushi Paintings” held at the Japan-China Friendship Center. | ||
| 1992 | 78 | Urushi Byobu “Flowering Stars of the Heavens” is selected for the Twenty-fourth Nitten Exhibition. Takahashi serves on the selection committee. |
| Urushi Panel “Saga of Many Seasons” is featured at the Thirty-first Japan Contemporary Arts and Crafts Exhibition. | ||
| Urushi Decorative Tray “Moon Light” is displayed at the exhibition “Tradition and the Avant-garde: Arts and Crafts in Japan Today” held at the Museum of Arts and Crafts in Frankfurt, Germany. | ||
| Takahashi completes the drop curtain “Clouds of Joy (Peacock Clouds)” for the Main Hall of the Matsumoto Culture Center in Nagano Prefecture. | ||
| The Nagano Division of the Japan Contemporary Arts and Crafts Association presents the special exhibition the “Takahashi Setsuro Exhibition” in the hall of the Nagano Prefectural Matsumoto Culture Center. | ||
| Urushi Panel “Fresh Interior” is featured at the First Kahoku Shimpo Ninety-fifth Anniversary Kahoku Crafts Exhibition. Takahashi serves on the selection committee. | ||
| Urushi Panel “Tale of Lost Days” is featured in the exhibition “Masters of Contemporary Urushi Art: A Special Exhibition Commemorating the Opening of the Wajima Urushi Art Museum” in Ishikawa Prefecture. | ||
| Takahashi donates “Floral Tribute” to the Jingu Museum at Ise Shrine. | ||
| 1993 | 79 | Urushi Byobu “Stardust Symphony” is selected for the Twenty-fifth Nitten Exhibition. |
| Urushi Panel “Abridged Tale of the Four Seasons” is displayed at the Thirty-second Japan Contemporary Arts and Crafts Exhibition. | ||
| Urushi Decorative Tray “Moon Light” is selected for the Second Kahoku Crafts Exhibition (sponsored by the Kahoku Shimpo). Takahashi serves on the selection committee. | ||
| The exhibition “Takahashi Setsuro: An Exhibition Commemorating the Completion of the Azumino Office of the Matsumoto Shimin Times” is held in the hall of the new building. | ||
| Takahashi appears on the NHK program “Saturday Morning Art.” | ||
| 1994 | 80 | Urushi Byobu “Fantasy of the Constellations” is selected for the Twenty-sixth Nitten Exhibition. |
| Urushi Panel “Tale of Many Seasons” is displayed at the Thirty-third Japan Contemporary Arts and Crafts Exhibition. | ||
| Mitsukoshi’s flagship store in Nihonbashi hosts the exhibition “Urushi Screens, Wood-Core Dry-Lacquer Pieces, Maki-e Decorative Trays and Bokusai Paintings by Takahashi Setsuro.” | ||
| Byobu “Seven Manyo Poems” is featured at the “Exhibition of Classical Japanese Calligraphic Masterworks” held at Tokyu’s Nihonbashi location. | ||
| The artist donates 100 works including Urushi Byobu to the city of Toyota. | ||
| 1995 | 81 | Urushi Panel “Dream: A Constellation from Remote Antiquity” is selected for the Twenty-seventh Nitten Exhibition. |
| Wood-Core Kanshitsu (dry-lacquer: layers of the hemp cloth applied and hardened with lacquer) “God of the Forest” is featured at the Thirty-fourth Japan Contemporary Arts and Crafts Exhibition. | ||
| The Hachijuni Culture Foundation’s Gallery82 in Nagano City hosts the exhibition “Takahashi Setsuro: Poet in Urushi.” | ||
| Takahashi is awarded the title Professor Emeritus by the Tokyo National University of Fine Arts and Music. | ||
| He is recognized by the Director-General of the Agency for Cultural Affairs for his contributions to local culture. | ||
| The Takahashi Setsuro Gallery of the Toyota Municipal Museum of Art opens to the public. | ||
| The artist completes several new works for the Takahashi Setsuro Gallery: the urushi grand piano “Space Journey,” the urushi monument “Child God” and the stone sculpture “A Step on the Moon” and “Foal.” | ||
| The book “The Urushi of Takahashi Setsuro: An Engrossing Tale of Primal Landscapes in Black and Gold” appears. | ||
| 1996 | 82 | “Dream: Jomon Constellation” is selected for the Twenty-eighth Nitten Exhibition. |
| Wood-Core Kanshitsu “Forest of Fossils” is featured at the Thirty-fifth Japan Contemporary Arts and Crafts Exhibition. | ||
| Takahashi receives the ?Shinamai? Award from the Shinano Mainichi Shimbun newspaper. | ||
| Urushi Byobu “Ancient Tombs of the Sun and the Moon” is displayed at the exhibition “Rainbow and Shimmering Bridge: Contemporary Japanese Urushi” held at the Japan Society Gallery in New York and the Denver Art Museum. | ||
| 1997 | 83 | Urushi Panel “Constellation of a Land of Wonder” is selected for the Twenty-ninth Nitten Exhibition. |
| Wood-Core Kanshitsu “Spirit of the Forest” is featured at the Thirty-sixth Japan Contemporary Arts and Crafts Exhibition. | ||
| The artist is assigned the task of designing the official commemorative medal for the 18th Winter Olympics in Nagano. | ||
| As part of the Year of Japan in France, Mitsukoshi-Etoile in Paris hosts the exhibition “Takahashi Setsuro and Contemporary Japanese Urushi: A Sparkling Message in Urushi Black” sponsored by the Asahi Shimbun newspaper with the support of the Japanese Embassy in France and the Toyota Municipal Museum of Art. | ||
| Takahashi is awarded the Japanese government’s Order of Culture. | ||
| He is appointed full-time adviser to the Contemporary Arts and Crafts Association. | ||
| 1998 | 84 | Urushi Panel “Birth of a Nova” is selected for the Thirtieth Nitten Exhibition. |
| Wood-Core Kanshitsu “Tree Spirit” is featured at the Thirty-seventh Japan Contemporary Arts and Crafts Exhibition. | ||
| The exhibition “Takahashi Setsuro: A Sparkling Message in Urushi Black” is held at the Takahashi Setsuro Gallery of the Toyota Municipal Museum of Art and at Mitsukoshi’s flagship store in Nihonbashi. | ||
| Takahashi is named an Honorary Citizen of Toyota City. | ||
| 1999 | 85 | Urushi Panel “Message from Antiquity” is selected for the Thirty-first Nitten Exhibition. |
| Wood-Core Kanshitsu “Mountain of the Gods” is featured at the Thirty-eighth Japan Contemporary Arts and Crafts Exhibition. | ||
| Wako in the Ginza hosts the exhibition “Takahashi Setsuro’s Bokusai Paintings.” | ||
| Takahashi completes the urushi harp “Galactic Harmony” for the Takahashi Setsuro Gallery of the Toyota Municipal Museum of Art. | ||
| The artist donates fifty urushi screens, panels and other pieces to Hotaka Town (today Azumino City). | ||
| Hotaka (today Azumino City) launches a committee to discuss building a museum in honor of Takahashi Setsuro. | ||
| 2000 | 86 | Urushi Panel “Tale of Underground” is selected for the Thirty-second Nitten Exhibition. |
| Wood-Core Kanshitsu “Tree Spirit” is featured at the Thirty-ninth Japan Contemporary Arts and Crafts Exhibition. | ||
| The Nerima Art Museum hosts the exhibition “Art in Nerima 2000: The Urushi and Paintings of Takahashi Setsuro.” | ||
| Takahashi completes the ceramic relief “Sun, Moon, Stars, Blooming” in the rest area of Shiodome Station on the Oedo Line, part of the Toei subway network in Tokyo. | ||
| Hotaka’s (today Azumino City) Gallery Yuyu holds the exhibition “Urushi and Bokusai Paintings by Takahashi Setsuro: The Fantastic World of Hotaka’s Native Son Takahashi Setsuro.” | ||
| 2001 | 87 | Urushi Panel “Tale of the Four Seasons” is selected for the Thirty-third Nitten Exhibition. |
| Wood-Core Kanshitsu “Moon on a Mountain Ridge” is featured at the Fortieth Japan Contemporary Arts and Crafts Exhibition. | ||
| The artist is appointed honorary director of the Matsumoto City Museum of Art. | ||
| The Japanese Folk Museum in Matsumoto hosts the exhibition “Takahashi Setsuro: Messenger in Black.” | ||
| The artist donates the Bokusai Painting (Japanese ink with watercolors) “Early Autumn” to the city. | ||
| He donates urushi paintings and craftware to Hotaka (today Azumino City) along with various other materials. | ||
| Hotaka (today Azumino City) begins construction work on a museum to commemorate the artist. | ||
| Hotaka’s (today Azumino City) Gallery Yuyu holds the exhibition “Takahashi Setsuro: Tracing the Footsteps of the Artist.” | ||
| 2002 | 88 | Urushi Panel “Forest Echo” is selected for the Thirty-fourth Nitten Exhibition. |
| Takahashi donates Urushi Panels, reliefs and other pieces to Hotaka (today Azumino City). | ||
| He completes the ceramic relief “Flight” at the Matsumoto City Museum of Art. | ||
| Hotaka’s (today Azumino City) Gallery Yuyu holds the exhibition “Takahashi Setsuro: Dreams and Reminiscences of a Wonderful Native Town.” | ||
| 2003 | 89 | The Takahashi Setsuro Art Museum of Azumino opens in Hotaka (today Azumino City). |
| 2007 | Dies on April 19 .(92 years old) |