User:CAM-RUFU/Hiro Takahashi (Teddy bear artist)

Hiro Takahashi (real name: Hiroshi Takahashi, Christian name: Saint Francis of Assisi, born September 1, 1962) is the first male teddy bear artist in Japan  , who enhanced the charm of teddy bear as an art, not just as a stuffed toy. Hiro is also an art director and an art consultant©. His wife, Michi Takahashi, is also a teddy bear artist.

Brief History

 * September 1, 1962 – Born in Setagaya Tokyo, graduated from Yonan Middle high school in Utsunomiya, Sakushin Gakuin Middle and High School, and Tokai University majoring public information media. Was active in bicycle road racing club, and won second place at inter-high school and inter-college competitions.
 * Established the event company when he was a junior in college, after receiving the contribution from Dentsu Company.
 * 1988 – Married Michi. Met teddy bears in Vienna for their honeymoon.
 * 1991 – Started working for the marketing department of SONY, and at the same time started making teddy bears.
 * 1993 – His work received the 3rd place at the teddy bear artist competition in America, and at the same year, he was invited to create teddy bear for the Ironbridge Toy Museum (England) as the first Japanese teddy bear artist.
 * 2002 – Resigned SONY.
 * 2001 – Private exhibition was held at Yokohama Doll Museum for two and half months. “Michi & Hiro’s World”, their anthology, was published by Saihodo Gallery.
 * 2003 – Opened private museum, “Hakodate Nishihatoba Museum Teddy Bear Art Michi & Hiro’s World”

Art Works and Activities
His motto is to create teddy bear that is worthy of lasting as an art. All his work process is done by half-backstitch, and even most accessories are made by hand. He creates only about 20 pieces per a year, and most of them are one-of-a-kind. His creations are very rare and only seen in the convention, museums, and magazines. After 1993, he made antique and traditional style of bears with solid body and original style, both in standard and miniature sizes. Many of his works received numerous awards in Japan and America. He is well known pioneer male teddy bear artist in Japan. Recently, he devoted himself to create the pieces to send message to protect the environment, and made many polar bears and grizzly bears. He is active in the cultural exchange through teddy bears  , the Japanese teddy bear culture development, and charity activities. He took part in the establishment of the Japan Teddy Bear Association.