Biography
Tsuneo Nakazawa

Tsuneo Nakazawa (b. 1973) is a metal craftsman based in Nasu, Tochigi Prefecture. After graduating from the Department of Art and Design at Musashino Art University in 1998, Nakazawa worked at a blacksmith shop in Japan for a year before moving abroad to study metal forging techniques in Germany, Switzerland, the Czech Republic, and Italy. 

Nakazawa uses metal forging to create a wide range of works, from chagama—traditional cast iron pots—to decorative sculpture. He creates his pieces by applying heat and directly hammering the metal, rather than using welding or molds. This method requires immense strength and dedication, resulting in the charming and rustic quality his work is known for.  

Artist Timeline

1973 Born in Japan

1998 Graduated from Musashino Art University in 1998.

1999–2003 Apprenticed at forging and blacksmithing workshops across Europe, including Germany, Switzerland, Italy, and the Czech Republic

1999 Participated in the Tobiashammer Blacksmiths' Symposium (Germany)

2004–Present Based in Nasu, Tochigi Prefecture, Japan, where he continues his practice

 

Selected Exhibitions
2021 Iron at Ippodo (group exhibition), Ippodo Gallery
2023 Moonlit Tea Gathering, Ippodo Gallery (subsequently exhibited in 2024 and 2025)
2023 Flying Birds Exhibition, Ippodo Gallery
2024 Flying Birds Masters Exhibition, Ippodo Gallery (subsequently exhibited in 2025 and 2026)

Works
  • Tsuneo Nakazawa, やまとうた 空書き , Yamato Poem, Kūgaki (Air Writing)
    Tsuneo Nakazawa
    やまとうた 空書き <はるたてば>, Yamato Poem, Kūgaki (Air Writing)
    Metal
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  • Tsuneo Nakazawa, やまとうた 空書き , Yamato Poem, Air Writing, “Hisakata no…”
    Tsuneo Nakazawa
    やまとうた 空書き <ひさかたの>, Yamato Poem, Air Writing, “Hisakata no…”
    Metal
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  • Tsuneo Nakazawa, May this summer night linger a little longer, before dawn arrives—the moon rests upon the waves crossing the rocks. 猶しばしさてやは明けむ夏のよのいはこす浪に月はやどりて, 2026
    Tsuneo Nakazawa
    May this summer night linger a little longer, before dawn arrives—the moon rests upon the waves crossing the rocks. 猶しばしさてやは明けむ夏のよのいはこす浪に月はやどりて, 2026
    Iron
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  • Tsuneo Nakazawa, Though the autumn showers fall, their sound is ever the same. Through the wooden floorboards, moonlight filters through the leaves above. しぐるるも音はかはらぬ板間より木のはは月のもるにぞありける, 2026
    Tsuneo Nakazawa
    Though the autumn showers fall, their sound is ever the same. Through the wooden floorboards, moonlight filters through the leaves above. しぐるるも音はかはらぬ板間より木のはは月のもるにぞありける, 2026
    Iron
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  • Tsuneo Nakazawa, How lovely—even the drifting clouds trailing before the moon. The signs of autumn reveal themselves in the sky. いとはじよ月にたなびくうき雲も秋のけしきはそらに見えけり, 2026
    Tsuneo Nakazawa
    How lovely—even the drifting clouds trailing before the moon. The signs of autumn reveal themselves in the sky. いとはじよ月にたなびくうき雲も秋のけしきはそらに見えけり, 2026
    Iron
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  • Tsuneo Nakazawa, Kana Preface: “Yamato poetry takes the human heart as its seed and grows into the myriad leaves of words.” ＜やまとうた　空書き＞　 仮名序　やまとうたはひとのこころを種として、よろずの言の葉とぞなれりける, 2026
    Tsuneo Nakazawa
    Kana Preface: “Yamato poetry takes the human heart as its seed and grows into the myriad leaves of words.” ＜やまとうた　空書き＞　 仮名序　やまとうたはひとのこころを種として、よろずの言の葉とぞなれりける, 2026
    Iron
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  • Tsuneo Nakazawa, Kana Preface: “Those who have understood the heart of poetry, as though gazing upon the moon in the vast sky, will surely revere the past and cherish the present.” ＜やまとうた　空書き＞　 仮名序　ことのこゝろをえたらむ人は、おほぞらの月をみるがごとくに、いにしへをあふぎていまを, 2026
    Tsuneo Nakazawa
    Kana Preface: “Those who have understood the heart of poetry, as though gazing upon the moon in the vast sky, will surely revere the past and cherish the present.” ＜やまとうた　空書き＞　 仮名序　ことのこゝろをえたらむ人は、おほぞらの月をみるがごとくに、いにしへをあふぎていまを, 2026
    Iron, brass
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  • Tsuneo Nakazawa, “Little Did I Know, the Moon I Had Gazed Upon in the Distant Sky” ＜やまとうた　空書き＞しらさりき 雲井のよそに みし月の, 2026
    Tsuneo Nakazawa
    “Little Did I Know, the Moon I Had Gazed Upon in the Distant Sky” ＜やまとうた　空書き＞しらさりき 雲井のよそに みし月の, 2026
    Iron, Brass, and Maple
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  • Tsuneo Nakazawa, “Though with the falling white snow I too have grown old, my heart remains, never to fade away.” ＜やまとうた　空書き＞　しら雪の ともにわが身は ふりぬれど 心は消えぬ ものにぞありける, 2026
    Tsuneo Nakazawa
    “Though with the falling white snow I too have grown old, my heart remains, never to fade away.” ＜やまとうた　空書き＞　しら雪の ともにわが身は ふりぬれど 心は消えぬ ものにぞありける, 2026
    Iron, Brass, and Maple
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  • Tsuneo Nakazawa, Iroha Poem (Air Calligraphy)　＜いろはうた 空書き＞, 2026
    Tsuneo Nakazawa
    Iroha Poem (Air Calligraphy)　＜いろはうた 空書き＞, 2026
    Iron
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  • Tsuneo Nakazawa, Yamato Poetry (Air Calligraphy) Is this world a dream, or is it reality? Even what we call reality— not knowing it as a dream, we exist, yet do not exist.やまとうた＜空書き＞ よのなかは　ゆめかうつつか　うつつとも （夢とも知らず ありてなければ）, 2026
    Tsuneo Nakazawa
    Yamato Poetry (Air Calligraphy) Is this world a dream, or is it reality? Even what we call reality— not knowing it as a dream, we exist, yet do not exist.やまとうた＜空書き＞ よのなかは　ゆめかうつつか　うつつとも （夢とも知らず ありてなければ）, 2026
    Iron, brass, maple
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  • Tsuneo Nakazawa, For reasons I cannot name, my heart comes to rest on the mountain's edge, where I behold for the first time this year the slender crescent moon. なにとなく心ぞとまる山の端にことし見初る三日月のかげ, 2026
    Tsuneo Nakazawa
    For reasons I cannot name, my heart comes to rest on the mountain's edge, where I behold for the first time this year the slender crescent moon. なにとなく心ぞとまる山の端にことし見初る三日月のかげ, 2026
    Iron
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  • Tsuneo Nakazawa, The moonlight, like a mirror on an autumn night, reflects the sky of ages past. 秋の夜のかがみと見ゆる月かげは昔のそらをうつす也けり, 2026
    Tsuneo Nakazawa
    The moonlight, like a mirror on an autumn night, reflects the sky of ages past. 秋の夜のかがみと見ゆる月かげは昔のそらをうつす也けり, 2026
    Iron
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Exhibitions
Events