Tanabe was born to one of Japan’s most prestigious bamboo pedigrees. Like his father, Tanabe Chikuunsai III, he attended art school and earned a degree in sculpture. He is the chosen son to become Tanabe Chikuunsai IV, representing the fourth generation of bamboo artists in his family.
From a young age, he gravitated towards bamboo, making his first piece when he was only 7 or 8. He continues to work alongside his esteemed father in the elder’s Osaka studio, taking brief breaks in Beppu to improve his proficiency.
His signature is organic sculptural forms made with tiger bamboo and other natural materials. Although only 31, he has received many accolades, including the Mayor’s Award at the Sakai City Art Exhibition in 2001 and the Osaka Craft Exhibition Choice Award at the All Kansai Art Exhibition in 2004. He is also active outside Japan, exhibiting and demonstrating in Australia, New Zealand, Switzerland, and Korea. His work is housed at the Seattle Art Museum and Philadelphia Museum of Art. Recently Lloyd Cotsen, the former CEO of the Neutrogena Corporation and a visionary collector of Japanese bamboo, donated one of Tanabe’s baskets to the Long Beach Museum of Art.