My old Master, Yousaku Murai biography:

1919 - 2012
Born in Tokyo, Japan

1941 
Graduated from Tokyo Bijutsu Gakkou (Tokyo Art School)
Kogeika Shikkoubu. Murai studied under Shisui Rokkaku, Gonroku Matsuda, and You Isoda.

1942-50 
Worked at Riken Denka Kougyo Corporation in Shizuoka, Japan under Hiroshi Ikukoma and Naoji Terai.

1950-59 
Shizuoka-shi Kogei Shidoujo (Craft Instruction Center of Shizuoka City)

1951 
Sep-Oct Participated in Urushi Technical Instruction in Burma.

1959-75 
Worked at Hitachi Seisakujo.

1968-86 
Instructor at Tokyo Geijutsu Daigaku Bijyutsu Gakubu

1956-2003 
Belongs to Nihon Craft-Design Kyokai (Japan Craft-Design Society)

1975-current 
Opened Murai Urushi Koubo in Tokyo, Japan
Murai also teaches Urushi at Odakyu Minami Rinkan Studio, Kamakura Studio, and Tokyu BE Studio.

Publications:
"Hon Makie" Instruction Video 1998-99 Sony Family
"Murai Yousaku Beiju Kinen Shitsugei Sakuhinshu" 2007

Selected Exhibitions:

1971-95 
Nihon Craft-Design Kyokai Exhibition (Japan Craft-Design Society)
Craft Mokkouten in Kamakura (10 exhibitions)
Sekai Design Exhibition (World Design Exhibition)
Murai Urushi Koubo Exhibitions

Award:

2005 
Nihon Shikkou Kyokai Yushu Ginou Shou (Japan Urushi Society Excellence in Technique Award)