Yoshio Mitsui was born on September 22, 1899 in Negishi town (now Taito) in Tokyo. He first studied engraving under Katsunari Tsuchida (土田勝業) and later under Kiyoshi Unno [海野清]. In 1927 he entered the Tokyo Fine Arts School (now Tokyo University of Arts) and continued to study under Unno. In 1928 he graduated from the School, continuing to study under Unno.
In 1952, at the 8th Japanese Fine Arts Exhibition, Mitsui's artwork "Inlaid vase with catfish" (彫金象嵌筥 - ナマズ) won the Kawai Gyokudo Award (川合玉堂賞) and was purchased by the Ministry of Education. In 1956 he received the Academy of Arts Award at the 11th Japanese Fine Arts Exhibition for his engraved and inlaid vase.
Mitsui often pictured fishes in his works: carps, goldfishes, trouts, perches, catfishes, etc.; and sea animals (shrimps, crabs, etc.)

Engraved and carved silver pictures by Yoshio Mitsui depicting (from left to right, top to bottom) an angelfish, Japanese red seaperch, trouts and Japanese (Magochi) flatheads.

Mitsui presented his works at national exhibitions almost every year for 30 years, since his studies at Tokyo Fine Arts School. He also served as a member of the Kofukai Fine Art Society.
Yoshio Mitsui died on January 2, 1959 in Nippon Medical School Hospital from liver cirrhosis.

Addresses and locations

Exhibitions

Participated in the following exhibitions (from "Year book of Japanese Art", 1960):
1927: 8th Japan Art Exhibition: "Jewelry box with a garden scenery" (楽園之図手箱).
1928: 9th Imperial Arts Institute Exhibition: "Sea" (海彫金手筥).
1930: 11th Imperial Arts Institute Exhibition: "Blackened copper dish" (黒味銅製盤).
1931: 12th Imperial Arts Institute Exhibition: "Bowl for vegetables and fruits" (青果器).
1932: 13th Imperial Arts Institute Exhibition: "Blackened copper vase" (黒味銅花瓶).
1933: 14th Imperial Arts Institute Exhibition: "Iron square dish for fish" (魚鉄方盤).
1934: 15th Imperial Arts Institute Exhibition: "Chrysanthemum small bowl" [菊水紋小鉢].
1936: Reorganized Imperial Arts Institute Exhibition: "Blackened copper bowl" [黒味銅小鉢].
1936: Pilot Ministry of Education Art Exhibition: "Inlaid confectionery dish" (象嵌菓子器).
1937: 1st Ministry of Education Art Exhibition: "Engraved inlaid dish" (彫金象嵌水盤).
1938: 2nd Ministry of Education Art Exhibition: "Iron moribana flowers pot" (鉄盛花器).
1939: 3rd Ministry of Education Art Exhibition: "Shibuichi inlaid vase" (四分一象嵌花瓶).
1940: Grand International Exposition of Japan: "Egraved inlaid bowl" (彫金象嵌盛器).
1941: 4th Ministry of Education Art Exhibition: "Engraved inlaid vase" (彫金象嵌花器).
1943: 6th Ministry of Education Art Exhibition: "Brass vase" (黄銅花器).
1944: Wartime Ministry of Education Art Exhibition: "Blackened copper vase" (黒味銅花器).
1947: 3rd Japanese Fine Arts Exhibition: "Flat inlaid brass vase" (平象嵌黄銅花器).
1948: 4th Japanese Fine Arts Exhibition: "Engraved inlaid box" (彫金平象嵌筥).
1949: 5th Japanese Fine Arts Exhibition: "Flat inlaid vase" (金工平象嵌花器).
1950: 6th Japanese Fine Arts Exhibition: "Engraved flower vase" (彫金花盛).
1951: 7th Japanese Fine Arts Exhibition: "Blackened copper vase" (黒味銅花瓶).
1952: 8th Japanese Fine Arts Exhibition: "Inlaid vase with catfish" (彫金象嵌筥 - ナマズ). Kawai Gyokudo Award.
1953: 9th Japanese Fine Arts Exhibition: "Taking off bird figurine" (打出福久置物).
1954: 10th Japanese Fine Arts Exhibition: "Engraved inlaid glazed vase" (彫金象嵌魚文花瓶).
1955: 11th Japanese Fine Arts Exhibition: "Inlaid vase with catfish" (彫金象嵌花器 - ナマズ).
1956: 12th Japanese Fine Arts Exhibition: "Engraved silver vase" (彫金銀花器). Japan Art Academy prize.
1956: 42th Kofukai Exhibition: "Vase" (花瓶).
1957: 13th Japanese Fine Arts Exhibition: "Inlaid vase" (象嵌花器).
1957: 43th Kofukai Exhibition: "Picture frame with monkey" (猿之額).
1958: 43th Kofukai Exhibition: "Engraved dish with crab" (金彩蟹文飾皿).

Angelfish (pterophyllum)	Red seaperch (mebaru)	Cherry trout (masu salmon)
Bartail flathead (magochi)	Japanese sea bass (suzuki)	Ayu sweetfish (ayu)
Japanese tiger prawn (kuruma-ebi)	Rabbits	Pine tree branch
Mt. Fuji

Buckle with Oni	Tray with flatheads	Vase with flatheads
Flask with flatheads	Incense burner

Mitsui, Yoshio [三井義夫] (1899 ~ 1959)

Addresses and locations

Exhibitions

Marks

Examples (from the web)

Other works by Mitsui Yoshio

References