Progressing and Deepening

GRANDPRIX Mighty Female Warrior Netsuke Artists Kukan Oikawa

In military stories, Tomoe Gozen was praised as having "a very beautiful face" and "a soldier who could fight a thousand men by herself." In the samurai society, where it was difficult for women to achieve fame, Tomoe Gozen was passed down through the generations as a warrior woman who achieved great deeds. This work depicts the dynamic life of a woman who lived through difficult times.

GRANDPRIX Amulet on Arm Netsuke Artists Motomasa Kurita

This work was carved on the theme of the lyrics of a short song titled “Amulet on Arm”.
A chic, tipsy geisha stands on a willow bridge, where a river breeze brings coolness to the air. She is so single-minded that she has a reputation for hating men, but she wears an amulet on her arm to wish for the fulfillment of her love for the man of her choice.