The Essence of Form: The Sculptural Legacy of Mitsuo Shigemura Born in the vibrant metropolis of Tokyo in 1936, Mitsuo Shigemura emerged as a transformative force in the landscape of twentieth-century Japanese sculpture. His artistic odyssey began with rigorous academic training at the prestigious Tokyo National University of Fine Arts and Music, where he earned his degree in 1960. This foundational period provided him with the technical mastery required to navigate the complexities of three-dimensional space, yet it was his subsequent journey to France that would truly expand his creative c…