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姫路城大天守の鯱などの保存修理工事に従事した鬼瓦製作の第一人者 1921年 奈良市生まれ。1938年 家業「瓦宇」（創業1820年）の瓦製造業に就業。幾多の国宝、重要文化財建造物の屋根瓦の製造及び修理工事に就く。 1981年 奈良県高等職業訓練校校長に就任。1982年 卓越した技能者「現代の名工」として労働大臣表彰を受ける。 1984年 株式会社瓦宇工業所代表取締役に就任。同年ポーラ特賞受賞。 1988年 「選定保存技術保持者」として文化庁より選定される。1991年 「日本鬼師の会」会長、「日本伝統瓦技術保存会」会長に就任。1991年 「勲六等瑞宝賞」受賞。著書に「鬼瓦」、「鬼・鬼瓦」、「生きている鬼瓦」、「獅子口を探る」など多数。伝統的な日本古来の瓦職人としての技術を継承。

[profile]
A master of oni-gawara (ridge-end tiles; literally "demon tiles") production, Kobayashi was involved in the restoration of the shachi (fish-like roof ornamentations) that adorn the great tower at Himeji Castle. Born in 1921 in Nara, Kobayashi joined Kawarau Kogyosho, his family's kawara roof tile manufacturing business in 1938. There, he was involved in the production and repair of kawara for numerous buildings designated as national treasures or important cultural properties. In 1981, he became head of the Nara Prefectural High School for Vocational Training. The following year he was named a "gendai no meiko" (Modern Master) by the Minister of Labor for his outstanding technique. In 1984 he became representative director of Kawarau Kogyosho. That same year he also received the Pola Award for Traditional Culture. In 1988 the Agency for Cultural Affairs named him a "bearer of techniques selected for preservation." In 1991 he became Chairman of both the Japan Association of Ridge-End Tile Makers and the Society for the Preservation of Japanese Traditional Kawara Techniques. That same year he was also awarded the Order of the Sacred Treasure, Sixth Class, by the Japanese government. His many publications include Onigawara (Demon Tiles), Oni ﾐ Onigawara (Demons and Demon Tiles), Ikiteiru onigawara (Living Demon Tiles), Shishiguchi wo saguru (Investigating Shishiguchi ["Lion's Mouth" Ridge-End Tiles]). He continues working to pass on the techniques of the ancient craft of traditional tile making.