Yamaguchi Itaro (山口伊太郎)
Itaro YAMAGUCHI (December 18, 1901 - June 27, 2007) was a textile workman of the Nishijin district. He was the founder of Shiko Kabushiki Kaisha Corporation. Yasujiro YAMAGUCHI is his real younger brother. He began making 'Genji Monogatari Emaki' (Illustrated Hand scroll of the Tale of Genji) out of cloth when he was 70 years old. Just after he gave instructions for the last scroll, he passed away at the age of 105 before its completion in 2007. The craftsmen who were given his instructions finished the last scroll of the four of 'Genji Monogatari Emaki' on March 3 of the following year.
Nishijin's textile technology developed from the Meiji era on with the introduction of the Jacquard loom imported from France, and two scrolls of the completed 'Genji Monogatari Emaki' were donated in 1995. As a result, he received Légion d'honneur Officier from the Republic of France.
Currently, there is an open Exhibition of the Remaining Works of Itaro YAMAGUCHI, 'Genji Monogatari Emaki' (Tale of Genji Scroll) in Okura Museum of Art in Tokyo City.
Career
1901: He was born in Horikawa Nishi-iru, Kamitachiuri Street, Kamigyo Ward, Kyoto City.
1913: He started working in Sano shop of Nishijin textile manufacture after graduating from Kyoto City Seiitsu elementary school.
1920: He established Yamaguchi Textile Factory of Higashi Senbon-cho, Teranouchi Agaru Nisiiru, Omiya Street, Kamigyo Ward, Kyoto City.
1952: He established Shiko Kabushiki Kaisha corporation.
1970: He began the production of 'Genji Monogatari Emaki.'
1986: He completes one of the four scrolls of 'Genji Monogatari Emaki' (Bamboo River Scroll).
1990: He completes one of the four scrolls of 'Genji Monogatari Emaki' (The Ivy Scroll).
1992: The exhibition of 'Genji Monogatari Emaki' opened in the Museum of Kyoto.
1995: He donated four scrolls of 'Genji Monogatari Emaki' to Guimet Musée national des Arts Asiatiques of France.
2001: He finished one of four scrolls of "Genji Monogatari Emaki."
2002: He donated one scroll of 'Genji Monogatari Emaki' to Guimet Musée national des Arts Asiatiques of France.
2003: There was an open exhibition in Heian-jingu Shrine, Kyoto City.
2003: There was an open exhibition in the Okura Shukokan Museum of Fine Arts, of Okura Bunka Zaidan (Okura Cultural Foundation) in Tokyo.
2005: There was an open exhibition at Sano Museum in Mishima City, Shizuoka Prefecture.
June 27, 2007: He passed away at his own residence (his age at death was 105).
2008: The last of four scrolls of 'Genji Monogatari Emaki' was completed (A Waste of Weeds Scroll). April: His remaining works were displayed in Shokoku-ji Temple in Kyoto and Jotenkaku Museum in Kyoto City.
April 2009: His remaining works were displayed at Okura Museum of Art, Tokyo City.