Okada Yuji (Shiho 1948-2022) 

1948 Born in Kyoto

1967 Graduates with honors the Kyoto Hiyoshi-ga-oka High School Lacquer Course, Receiving top prize for his graduation project

1969 Apprentices under Nitten Artist Ito Hiroshi

1970 First Accepted and Awarded at the Kyoto Prefectural Art Exhibition.  This begins his solo career.  He would exhibit with the Nitten, Nihon Gendai Kogeiten, Kyoten and, Kyoto Prefectural Art Exhibition, as well as solo and group shows, receiving many awards over the years.  Later serving as a judge at several of these events until retiring from the public spectrum in 1995.    

1985 Takes a position in the art department of Kyoto City Dohda Art School

1999 Exhibits three Dry-Lacquer works at the New York Art Festival.  This is a turning point in his career, when he begins to revealing his latest works overseas in Germany, England and America.  

2003 Retires from the Kyoto City Dohda Art School

2006 Establishes the Lacquer Studio Shiun to pass on skills to a younger generation.  He begins also attending various lacquer groups to help promote the lacquer arts.  He works closely with his son Yoshio.

2008 Changes his art name to Shiho

     Awarded at the 16th Lacquer Art Exhibition (Urushi no Bi Ten). 

Post 2008 he has concentrated on sharing his knowledgeand technique with students from around the globe. 

Work by the artist is held in the collections of:

Clark Center for the Promotion of Japanese Art

Denver Museum

Museum of Fine Arts, Boston

Metropolitan Museum of Fine Arts New York

New Orleans Museum of Fine Arts

Philadelphhia Museum of Art

Kiyomizu Sannenzaka Museum

     Shanghai Art Museum