Katori Hotsuma
Katori Hotsuma was a Meiji period metalsmith, known for his fine artworks.
He was born the second son of Katori Kuranosuke of Funao village (today Funao, Inzai City), Inba district, Chiba prefecture. At age four, in 1878, he was adopted by Gunji Hidetsuna, chief priest at Makata Shrine in Sakura City. He remained in Chiba until moving to Tokyo in 1891, where he began studying art at a school in the Hongô Nezu area.
Hotsuma later became an instructor of metalcraft at the Tokyo Bijutsu Gakkô (Tokyo Art School), as well as a member of the Imperial Art Academy (Teikoku bijutsu-in), the association which organized the Teiten Salon-style exhibitions. In addition to his activities with the Teiten and Bunten, teaching, and producing artworks, Katori also became active in researching the history of metalwork, and in historical conservation efforts. He was awarded the Order of Culture (Bunka kunshô) in 1953.
References
- Plaques on-site at Makata Shrine, Sakura.
