Hitoshi Karasawa

1950: Born in Nikko City, Tochigi Prefecture.

1971: Entered Sokei Academy of Fine Arts (Printmaking Dept.); studied wood engraving under Takao Hiwasaki, and copperplate engraving and print theory under Kiyomi Kato.

1973: Received the Newcomer’s Award at the Japan Print Association Exhibition.

1974: Completed the Research Course in Printmaking at Sokei Academy of Fine Arts. Participated in the “Five Wood Engravers Exhibition” at Yoseido Gallery.

1975: Held an exhibition for the wood engraving collection Shokuzai-ryo (Illumined Sinful-Redemptional Sphere) at Shirota Gallery. Since then, Shirota Gallery remained his primary venue for new works until 2015.

1975–1979: Created collages using his own wood engravings.

1977: Co-founded the wood engraving group “Nomi-no-kai” (The Chisel).

Held the 1st “Nomi-no-kai Print Exhibition” at Pacific Art Gallery.

1979: Launched the annual journal Nomi (Keishō Gallery); the group exhibition coincided with its publication until the final issue (Vol. V).

1981: Exhibition of the print collection Meikyu no Fuchi (The Abyss of the Labyrinth) with text by Yukou Deguchi at Shirota Gallery. Began his “Portrait Series” in wood engraving. Joined the visionary painting group “Genshi no Mori” (Forest of Visions) and participated in their exhibitions at Tokyo Central Art Gallery (1981, 1982).

1984: Published the first issue of Yoki (Container), an annual journal of poetry and prints (Issues I–III published by Yukawa Shobo).

1985: Published the illustrated book Gaka (Song of Songs) through Yukawa Shobo.

1987–1993: Produced “livre-objets” (book objects).

1988: Published print collection Death and Transfiguration, Vol. I: Night (Privately published).

1990: Published print collection Death and Transfiguration, Vol. II: Flood (Privately published).

1991: Published the catalogue raisonné Hitoshi Karasawa: Wood Engravings 1971-1991 (Abeism Co., Ltd).

1993: Imported a 19th-century British Albion Press. Under the imprint “Shiteishitsu,” he began private press publishing of original print collections, poetry/print volumes, and pamphlets.

1994: Published print collection NINE NUTS and the wood engraving collection Hojoki (A Japanese Thoreau of the Twelfth Century).

1996: Published the poetry/print collection The Sleep of Plants (Poetry by Takahiko Okada). Published the expanded catalogue raisonné Hitoshi Karasawa: Wood Engravings 1971-1996 (Abeism Co., Ltd).

1998: Published the essay collection Ginga no Hitsugi (Coffin of the Galaxy) through　Ozawa Shoten Publishing .

1999: Published print collection ZIPANGU.

2001: Published print collection 傾草紙 （Kabuki-zoshi).

2002: Published the novel Rondo (Tokyo Sogensha; later released as a Sogen mystery book).

2004: Launched SHIP, a bimonthly pamphlet of essays and prints; the series concluded in 2006 with Issue 18.

2006: Published exhibition catalogue Hitoshi Karasawa: Prints, Objects, Watercolors, Books 1971-2006 (Tochigi Prefectural Museum of Fine Arts, Museum of Modern Art, Kamakura & Hayama, Nikkei Inc.)

2007: Exhibition of “The Idol Series,” featuring colored wood engravings, at Shirota Gallery.

2008–2011: Series of exhibitions at Shirota Gallery: Theater of Blue (2008), Theater of Black (2009), Theater of Stars (2010), and After the Flood (2011), featuring monotypes, ink, watercolors, and collages.

2012: Exhibition of the copperplate series Summer Mirror at Shirota Gallery.

2013: Published the novel Kurofuji (Black Mt. Fuji) through Shinchosha Publishing Co., Ltd.

2015: Exhibition of Stellantis and other works, featuring ink, watercolors, and collage at Shirota Gallery.

2017: Solo exhibition featuring ink, watercolor, and collage, Children, Be Awake and Sleep Not at Gallery Murakoshi.

2019: Solo exhibition Comedia, based on “The Divine Comedy” and featuring works in ink, acrylic, and collage at Gallery Murakoshi.

2020: Solo exhibition celebrating the 50th work in the “Portrait Series” at Galerie Miyawaki.

2021: Published the haiku collection Sui-bi Kushō. (An Anthology of Mountain Mist Poems). Contributed poetry to the journal Canaris (Issues 7, 8, 9).

2022: Exhibition of Night Flight, featuring collotype prints and short stories, at LIBRAIRIE 6.

2023: Exhibition of the series Dream Diary (monotypes, collages, drawings) at GALERIE petit bois.

2024: Began wood carving. First presentation of wood sculptures in the two-person exhibition Two Likenesses with Ikuko Miyazaki at GALERIE petit bois.

2026: Publication of the print collection OPERA by BASE GALLERY, accompanied by a commemorative exhibition.

2006: Hitoshi Karasawa: Rondo in the Sky – Tochigi Prefectural Museum of Fine Arts

2006: Hitoshi Karasawa: Lurking in the Labyrinth of Images – The Museum of Modern Art, Kamakura & Hayama

2024: Hitoshi Karasawa: Prints, Paintings, and Music – Artegio Yufuin, Oita

Book Designs (Binding):

Collected Works of Yoshie Hotta (Chikumashobo Ltd)

Collected Works of Gérard de Nerval (Chikumashobo Ltd)

Collected Works of Sumiko Yagawa (Shoshi Yamada)

Book Illustrations:

Collected Short Stories of Otohiko Kaga (Ushio Publishing Co., Ltd.)

The Kenichi Yoshida Collection (Shinchosha Publishing Co., Ltd.)

Definitive Edition: The Collected Works of Yukio Mishima (Shinchosha Publishing Co., Ltd.)