In the pursuit of perfect craft: an artisan's lifework. (basketmaker Hiroshima Kazuo)(Smithsonian Institution's Arthur M. Sackler Gallery, Washington, D.C.)

Publication: Smithsonian

Publication Date: 01-JAN-95

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COPYRIGHT 1995 Smithsonian Institution

Deep in the mountain fastness of southern Japan's Hinokage region lies a country of swift rivers, deep valleys and verdant forests. The rugged terrain is punctuated by terraced-hillside farmsteads and remote hamlets that lay for at least five centuries, until the post-World War II era, virtually untouched by time.

Hinokage remains a district rich in the traditions of rural existence; it is also the home of one of Japan's long-unsung local craftsmen. Over more than 60 years, Hiroshima Kazuo has handcrafted baskets; his creations, now sought out avidly by collectors, are prized for their utility...

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