Emiko Okumura started "Creative House Okumura"
in 1986. Emiko has made industrial videos about companies, colleges,
and products. Now she moreover makes the documentary and concept
videos.
In 2001, Emiko received three big international
awards at the film festival for "Villa on Rokko Mountain".
Exploring the design of a rustic contemporary villa, this short
film touches the core of the Japanese aesthetic sensibility.
The simple log house at the top of Mt. Rokko was completed in
1997. The setting is peaceful, surrounded by sun-dappled foliage
that rustles in the wind and presents a colorful panorama of
the seasons. The fusion of time and space realized by the building,
and in turn by the film, is quintessentially Japanese. This short
film was recognized in the world.
In 2003, Emiko received two big international
awards for "Home in Tajima". This work expresses the
Japanese way of life. The Japanese try to use and make materials
last for many years, using them over and over again. That is
their basic attitude even toward housing materials. Right now
when the consumption society has come to a close, the Japanese
building style is very important.Tajima area which is the stage
of this work is in the northern part of Hyogo Prefecture in Japan.
There's a feeling of dampness which hangs in the air all year
round. The clear transition between the four seasons in Tajima
is strikingly beautiful.
In 2004, Emiko has started the "RaRa Project"
which is a group that introduces Japanese identity, culture and
sensibility to foreign people.
She received the award for "EN_ENGAWA". This video
introduces three year seasonal aspects of a traditional
residence in Japan. This focuses on the versatile function of
"EN-GAWA" (Japanese veranda). The space is peaceful
and enlightening. "EN-GAWA" is the stages for peoples'
encounter, play, conversation and enjoying life. "EN-GAWA"
also has the important functions as buffer space against the
cold and the humid in Japanese seasonal changes of climate. We'd
like to inform you Japanese sensibility and thoughts. It is officially
selected for the exhibition at NY International Independent Film
& Video Festival 2004.
On October, she produced the event "Japanese
Identity" in Paris and her works were screened at Maison
de Culture in Paris and Japanese Embassy in Bruxells.
In 2005, she received two awards on " Heartful
City Osaka". This work was made for 15th Anniversary Friendship
between Osaka and Hamburg. She went to Hamburg on Sep. 2004 and
lectured about Osaka City.
She founded the committee of Japanese Identity
and Culture promotion(JICP). This group consists of architects,
artist, directors and journalists. It keeps regular meetings
where think about the essence of Japanese culture.
In 2006, she received international awards on
" Happiness". This video was made for 60th anniversary
of Katsuyama Group.
She produced the films & lecture event "La
memoire de l'ame japonaise" in France Nov. 2006 cosponsored
by Consulat du Japon Strasbourg, Maison de l'Architecture de
la Haute Savoie, Maison de la culture du Japon in Paris and Hyogo
Representative Office in Paris. She went to Strasboug, Annecy,
Paris and Coulommiers with director and architect.
In 2007, she received the Silver award in WorldMediaFestival
2007 on "Metal Office". This video is the concept video
about Japanese architect Mr Takashi Yamaguchi.
She organized the film & lecture event "Japanese
Identity" in Finland Sep.2007 with Suomen Visiotalo OY (Finnish
video production).
In 2008, she received the Gold award and Special
award in WorldMediaFestival 2008 on "MATSUTANI 1",
the video of which is a documentary about a Japanese artist Mr
Takesada Matsutani.
In 2009, her work "MATSUTANI1" was selected for the international panrama selection at FIFA (Festival International Du Film Sur L'art, CANADA) and screened on 28th March
She received the Silver award in WorldMediaFestival 2009 on "Home in Tenjinbashi". This film was showed at JFFH(Japanisches Filmfest Hamburg).
She received the Bronze Award in the 30th Telly Awatds on "KARAKURI".
She organized the co-production and co-exhibition with Finnish Video Production (Suomen Visiotalo) and made the co-production "Familiar Landscape Takeno-Hauho" .
She held the screening event in Japan (Toyooka, Kyoto and Osaka) 12th-14th September.
Moreover the same event was held in Hauho in Finland 1th November.
In 2010, her work "Familiar Landscape Takeno-Hauho" received the Gold award in WorldMediaFestival 2010 and "KARAKURI" got the Silver award.
"Familiar Landscape Takeno-Hauho" received the special award - excellence in planning at JAAP INTERNATIONAL SHORT FILM FESTIVAL in japan and was screened in FUJI film hall on 9th December.
In 2011, her work "Surface is the Between " (art documentary about Shoichi IDA) received the Silver award in WorldMediaFestival 2011 and the Bronze award in the 32nd Telly Awards (USA).
