3rd Edition

For its third edition, the MINGEI BAMBOO PRIZE took on a new dimension: from 1 to 13 September 2026, the fourteen finalist works were presented at the Musée du quai Branly – Jacques Chirac, in the Jacques Kerchache Reading Room. Selected from 31 applications, they reflect the vitality and ongoing renewal of contemporary bamboo art in Japan.

On 11 September, a jury chaired by Emmanuel Kasarhérou, President of the Musée du quai Branly – Jacques Chirac, selected 𝐓𝐚𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐦𝐚 𝐒𝐡𝐢𝐮𝐧 𝐚𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐰𝐢𝐧𝐧𝐞𝐫 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟔 𝐌𝐈𝐍𝐆𝐄𝐈 𝐁𝐀𝐌𝐁𝐎𝐎 𝐏𝐑𝐈𝐙𝐄 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐤 𝐅𝐔𝐊𝐔𝐑𝐔 (𝐑𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬). Endowed with €5,000 by Galerie Mingei, the prize recognises a Japanese artist, or an artist residing in Japan, whose primary creative medium is bamboo.

Throughout the eleven days of the exhibition, visitors were also invited to vote for their favourite work via a QR code displayed in the exhibition space. At the close of the voting period, 𝐇𝐨𝐧𝐦𝐚 𝐇𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐚𝐤𝐢 𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐞𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐏𝐀𝐑𝐂𝐎𝐔𝐑𝐒 𝐃𝐄𝐒 𝐌𝐎𝐍𝐃𝐄𝐒 – 𝐌𝐈𝐍𝐆𝐄𝐈 𝐏𝐮𝐛𝐥𝐢𝐜 𝐏𝐫𝐢𝐳𝐞, endowed with €3,000 and jointly funded by Galerie Mingei and Parcours des Mondes.

𝐓𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐫𝐝 𝐞𝐝𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐨𝐫𝐠𝐚𝐧𝐢𝐬𝐞𝐝 𝐛𝐲 𝐆𝐚𝐥𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐞 𝐌𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐢, 𝐢𝐧 𝐜𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐌𝐮𝐬𝐞́𝐞 𝐝𝐮 𝐪𝐮𝐚𝐢 𝐁𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐥𝐲 – 𝐉𝐚𝐜𝐪𝐮𝐞𝐬 𝐂𝐡𝐢𝐫𝐚𝐜 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐏𝐀𝐑𝐂𝐎𝐔𝐑𝐒 𝐃𝐄𝐒 𝐌𝐎𝐍𝐃𝐄𝐒.

A Prize Dedicated to Contemporary Bamboo Art

For more than ten years, Galerie Mingei has been committed to promoting the recognition of Japanese bamboo art in Europe. Rooted in a long history of basketry and weaving, this art form is undergoing a profound renewal today: while mastering techniques passed down through generations, contemporary artists are pushing the expressive and sculptural possibilities of bamboo, establishing it as a creative medium in its own right.

This recognition was notably strengthened by the exhibition Fendre l’air. Art du bambou au Japon (Fendre l’air. Art of Bamboo in Japan), presented at the Musée du quai Branly – Jacques Chirac in 2018–2019 at the initiative of Galerie Mingei. The exhibition played an important role in introducing French audiences to the richness and creativity of this art form, whose international recognition has continued to grow ever since.

Created as a continuation of this momentum, the MINGEI BAMBOO PRIZE aims to support contemporary creation in bamboo, encourage artists, and strengthen their long-term visibility in France and internationally. The diversity of the fourteen works selected in 2026, ranging from forms rooted in basketry to the most sculptural explorations, illustrates the remarkable vitality of this artistic field.

The first edition, held in 2021, awarded Tanabe Chikuunsai IV the MINGEI BAMBOO PRIZE for Disintegrated Bamboo Daruma, while Yonezawa Jirō received the Guimet – Mingei Public Prize for Red Fossil 20-3, a work subsequently acquired by the Musée Guimet. In 2023, Hayashi Jyunpei won the second edition with Ryusen, while Ichikawa Youna received the Parcours des Mondes – Mingei Public Prize for Baika sōshun.

In 2026, Tashima Shiun thus joins the recipients of the MINGEI BAMBOO PRIZE with FUKURU (Roundness), while Honma Hideaki received the PARCOURS DES MONDES – MINGEI Public Prize.

With this third edition hosted by the Musée du quai Branly – Jacques Chirac, the MINGEI BAMBOO PRIZE continues its mission: to support a new generation of artists and contribute to establishing contemporary Japanese bamboo art as an enduring presence on the international art scene.