Nasu Isao: Cosmic Womb Jewel

Cosmic Womb Jewel

Delivery: 3-4 weeks

Refund Policy: https://japantastics.jp/policies/refund-policy

Materials: Itoigawa Jade, Maki-e Lacquer, Silver (SV), Kumihimo Cord
Pendant: 3.3 × 2.8 cm
Necklace Length: 42 cm

Cosmic Womb Jewel reflects upon the eternal cycle of birth, disappearance, and renewal. Accompanying the work is a poetic meditation in which civilizations fade, legends become myths, and the individual self dissolves with time, while a single jewel remains to carry the memory of countless lives. The jewel "sings" the stories entrusted to it and softly calls, "Come back again," evoking an endless return to the origin of existence.

The pendant takes the form of a magatama, one of Japan's oldest sacred objects and a symbol deeply rooted in the country's spiritual tradition. Carved from Itoigawa jade—a stone revered since the Jōmon period and recognized as one of Japan's most historically significant gemstones—it embodies the enduring connection between the natural world and human culture. Rather than presenting the magatama as an archaeological artifact, Nasu reimagines it as a living vessel of memory and transformation.

A finely crafted silver spiral unfolds across the surface, suggesting the continuous flow of time and the cyclical rhythm of existence. Delicate maki-e motifs of fire and water introduce a dialogue between opposing yet complementary forces, expressing the dynamic balance from which life continually emerges.

Suspended from a handwoven kumihimo cord, Cosmic Womb Jewel transcends conventional adornment. Conceived as a wearable work of art, it invites contemplation of humanity's place within an immeasurable continuum of time, where individual lives are fleeting, yet memory, myth, and spirit endure beyond the passage of generations.

Artist’s Profile

Isao Nasu is a Japanese artist whose wearable works draw upon gemstones, mythology, and the Japanese spiritual tradition to explore themes of prayer, memory, and inner transformation. Born in Kurashiki, Okayama Prefecture, Nasu was captivated by the luminous beauty of crystals from an early age, an encounter that sparked a lifelong fascination with the world of gemstones.

While still a student, a chance meeting with the owner of an opal mine inspired him to pursue a career in gemology. His quest to discover the world's treasures took him to more than forty countries. To finance his studies at a gemological institute in New York, he established a trading company in Morocco, an experience that further broadened his perspective on culture, craftsmanship, and the global exchange of precious materials.

After returning to Japan, Nasu worked for jewelry manufacturers and wholesalers before establishing his own studio at the age of twenty-six. Alongside his practice as a jeweler, he has devoted himself to researching the origins of personal adornment across cultures, promoting Japanese culture, and producing environmental radio programs and magazines.

In 2009, Nasu made his debut as an exhibiting artist at the Hankyu Umeda Main Store Art Gallery, presenting works that express the Japanese sense of beauty through mythological themes. His work has since been exhibited both in Japan and internationally, including selection for the PHILLIPS Design Week Preview in New York in 2014.