CWAJ established the Young Printmaker Award in 2005 as part of the 50th Print Show celebration to encourage the development of young artists. Eligible applicants are the artists selected at the Annual Exhibition of the Japan Society of Printmaking. Selected on the criteria of a project proposal, artistic potential and creativity, the recipient is expected to use the cash award of 500,000 yen within one year for a specific project. In addition, the recipient has an opportunity to exhibit the award print at the CWAJ Print Show and is also allowed to exhibit a new print three years after receiving the award. Many of the past recipients are flourishing in the printmaking world, a testimony to the importance of this award to inspire young artists.
2026 Young Printmaker Award Recipient
KUROGANE Mahiro
Born: 2000 in Tokyo, Residence: Kanagawa
Graduate of Department of Painting, Graphic Arts Course, Faculty of Art and Design, Musashino Art University
Enrolled in the Graduate School of Art and Design, Master’s Course in Printmaking at Musashino Art University.
2025 The 50th Annual Exhibition of the Japan Society of Printmaking, Excellence Award, Collection Award to Machida city Museum of Graphic Arts
“Drawing on my own experience of competitive swimming from a young age, I chose to focus on the behind-the-scenes moments rather than the joy and exhilaration of sports, expressing the essence of humanity. By combining the theme of life behind the scenes in swimming with my research into techniques, I have created a depiction of the earnest, albeit sometimes awkward, figure of humanity.
I plan to use the prize money to purchase woodblocks, a traditional baren (printing tool), a whetstone, and brushes. My goal is to create life-sized portraits of my subjects, and I want to work on large-scale pieces that consider the relationship and meaning between the image and its size. I also aim to improve my technique and create more refined works by using appropriate tools.”