is a Japanese textile artist who has created

kimono The is a traditional Japanese garment and the national dress of Japan. The kimono is a wrapped-front garment with square sleeves and a rectangular body, and is worn left side wrapped over right, unless the wearer is deceased. The kimono ...

since 1958. Shimura was awarded multiple honours including the Living National Treasure in 1990 and the 2014 Kyoto Prize in Arts and Philosophy.

Early life and education

Shimura was born in 1924 in Omihachiman,

Japan Japan ( ja, 日本, or , and formally , ''Nihonkoku'') is an island country in East Asia. It is situated in the northwest Pacific Ocean, and is bordered on the west by the Sea of Japan, while extending from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north ...

. She completed her education at

Bunka Gakuin is a Japanese vocational school. It opened in 1921 as the first co-educational school in Japan. Alumni * Hisae Imai * Takako Irie * Liu Chi-hsiang * Yoko Mizuki * Akiko Santo * Akira Terao *Mitsu Yashima * Guan Zilan Guan Zilan (; January ...

in 1942.

Career

In 1955, Shimura began working in textile art. After meeting the Japanese artist

Tatsuaki Kuroda was a Japanese woodworker and lacquerware artist. He was nominated a Living National Treasure in 1970. He received a commission to create the doorknob bases for the ''Take-no-Ma'' audience room in the new Tokyo Imperial Palace. The bases are 5 ...

, Shimura participated in an art event held by the Japan Kōgei Association in 1957. During her career, Shimura studied under artists Toshijiro Inagaki and

Tomimoto Kenkichi was a Japanese potter and a Living National Treasure. Biography His family came from Nara prefecture. He received a commission to design a large Japanese-lacquered zelkova shelf called “kingin-sai kazari tsubo” for the ''Ume-no-Ma'' au ...

. She has created numerous kimono since her first work in 1958 entitled "Autumn Mist". In 2015, Shimura's art was shown at the Museum of Modern Art, Shiga. In 2016, Shimura had exhibitions at the

National Museum of Modern Art, Kyoto The is an art museum in Kyoto, Japan. This Kyoto museum is also known by the English acronym MoMAK (Museum of Modern Art, Kyoto). History The National Museum of Modern Art, Kyoto (MoMAK) was initially created as the Annex Museum of the Nationa ...

and the

Okinawa Prefectural Museum The is a museum in the most southern prefecture of Japan. The museum complex in the Omoro-machi area of Naha, the capital city of Okinawa Prefecture. It opened in November 2007, and includes art, history, and natural history museums focusing ...

. Apart from her creations in textile art, Shimura created spaces for textile art learning with her daughter. In 1989, Shimura and her daughter opened up a work space for textile art and a religious spot for weaving in 2013. Shimura also wrote books that were awarded the Nihon Essayist Club Prize and the Osaragi Jirō Prize.

Awards and honors

Shimura was awarded the

Medal with Purple Ribbon are medals awarded by the Government of Japan. They are awarded to individuals who have done meritorious deeds and also to those who have achieved excellence in their field of work. The Medals of Honor were established on December 7, 1881, and we ...

in 1986, named a Living National Treasure in 1990 and given the

Person of Cultural Merit is an official Japanese recognition and honor which is awarded annually to select people who have made outstanding cultural contributions. This distinction is intended to play a role as a part of a system of support measures for the promotion of ...

honor in 1993. Other honors Shimura was bestowed with include the 2014 Kyoto Prize in Arts and Philosophy and the

Order of Culture The is a Japanese order, established on February 11, 1937. The order has one class only, and may be awarded to men and women for contributions to Japan's art, literature, science, technology, or anything related to culture in general; recipient ...

the following year.

Personal life

Shimura is the mother of Yoko Shimura, who is also a textile artist.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Shimura, Fukumi 1924 births Textile artists Artists from Shiga Prefecture Japanese women artists Living National Treasures of Japan Kyoto laureates in Arts and Philosophy Living people People from Shiga Prefecture Women textile artists Japanese textile artists 20th-century textile artists 21st-century textile artists 20th-century Japanese women artists 21st-century Japanese women artists