Fumio Noguchi
野口文男
Born: 1964
Gunma, Japan
Began Carving: in February 2000
Former/Other Occupation: Editor of running magazine / Bed & Breakfast Owner & Operator（Sakura B&B)
Favourite Subjects in Netsuke: Aquatic creatures, New Zealand Native Animals, Small creatures(insects, amphibians, etc..), Japanese Legends and traditional theme.
Materials: Deer Antler & Crown, Cow Bone, Wild Pig Tusk, Whale Tooth, Whale Bone, Hippopotamus Tooth, Ivory, Mammoth Tusk, Tagua Nut, Lignum Vitae, Box Wood, Ebony, Tortoise Shell, Goat Horn, etc..
Tools: Files, Needle Files, Handmade Chisels(Hidari-ba), Dremel, Sand Papers, Willow Tree twig, Tokusa(sanding plant)
Favorite leisure activity:
Running, Playing Darts, Drinking Wine, Beer and Sake, Collecting antique Netsuke, Visiting Antique shops, looking for old and retro
things
Artists in his close Family:
Animal Taxidermist (Hakusei-shi), Rock singer-song writer, Bonsai-Artists, Buddhism Art Painter, Jade Carver(son=Kyohei Noguchi)
About *Kyohei Noguchi
https://www.mountainjade.co.nz/blogs/news/meet-the-carver-kyohei-noguchi
Photos /Nick Paulsen
I started carving in the year 2000 under the guidance of David Paki who is a Maori Carving Teacher in Christchurch. The very first bone piece I made (only used Coping Saw, Files and Sandpapers) was beautiful enough to let me into carving world. Paki taught me the importance of hand tools that I still use mainly. I finish every piece by hand sanding/polishing using 1000 ~ 2000 grid wet & dry sandpaper. Lately, I started using "Tokusa" = sanding plant for sanding for Netsuke and polishing with the dust powder of Deer antler.
Shifting to carve Japanese Netsuke might be a natural flow for me. As a descendant of Samurai (believed since 14th century), I'm very interested in the life of EDO ERA(1603~1867). I enjoy reading books about the life and people in Edo period. I was captivated Netsuke’s interesting design, behind stories, size and exquisite craftsmanship. So, I started to collect Netsuke books and antique Netsuke, then contacting other carvers and dealers and still learning about it.
In 2015, I was lucky enough to get advise from Japanese Master Netsuke Carvers in Tokyo. Mr Ryushi Komada even gave me a couple of his handmade chisels which work really well. Mr Akira Kuroiwa also gave me some useful tools and hint.
Since I stated carving, Owen Mapp (Paraparaumu, NZ) is the person who has influenced and inspired me a lot. His work, personality, knowledge, his every words to me are very precious.
Fumio's antique Netsuke Collection is growing.