Hidari Jingorō

Hear about Hidari Jingorō on Episode 33 of our Podcast, the Japan Archives.

• Period: Azuchi-Momoyama Period, Edo Period
• Occupation: Sculptor
• Family:
• Birth: c.1548
• Death: c.1634

Hidari Jingorō

Hidari Jingorō (左 甚五郎) is said to have lived from c.1584-1634,¹ and whose real name was Itami Toshikatsu.¹²

Born in Akashi (now Hyogo Prefecture) he was discipled to a master carpenter of the Imperial Court.²

Said to have been left handed (hence the name ‘hidari‘)¹ he is said to have worked on several different projects in his lifetime.

He assisted in the reconstruction of Negoroji in Kii Province,² as well as constructing the bell tower of Hōkō-ji.¹² Hidari also worked in Nishi Hongan-ji and Chion-in in Kyoto where he constructed the uguisu-bari (singing floors).¹

Later he moved to Edo and married a daughter of the Tokugawa families master carpenter.² It was here he worked on projects such as the carving of the nemuri-neko in Tōshō-gu in Nikkō. His familiy continues to sculpt to this day.¹

Footnotes

1. Louis Frederic, translated by Kathe Roth (2002) “Japan Encyclopedia”. London: Harvard University Press.
2. Kodansha. (1993) ”Japan: An Illustrated Encyclopedia”. Tokyo: Kodansha Ltd.

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