As Senior Vice President and International Director of Christie’s Asian Art departments, Katsura Yamaguchi had been fundamental player in securing business deals and relationships in the Far East and New York. Mr. Yamaguchi has always had an important presence in Asia and was crucial in the growth of Christie’s offices in Tokyo, Japan. In addition to his business development role, as a former Senior Specialist of Japanese and Korean art he acts as a top-level client liaison worldwide.
Mr. Yamaguchi has been instrumental in selling many important private collections. In 1998, he was responsible for the landmark sale of Ukiyo-e Paintings formerly belonging to the Azabu Museum of Art and Craft, which realized $4.9 million. Naturally Mr. Yamaguchi was also active in organizing other important sales, such as Japanese Modern and Contemporary paintings from the Itoman Collection that achieved in 2000, a staggering $7.9 million. In 2005 Mr. Yamaguchi notably handled the sale of Important Swords from the Museum of Japanese Sword Fittings that realized the groundbreaking result of $1.6 million. Additionally, for the remarkable recent business success of Mr. Yamaguchi, sold a very important seated statue of 12th century Dainichi Nyorai for $14,300,000 in March, 2008, that made a world record of Japanese antique art, and of the most expensive individual work in any Asian art sold in New York, now registered as an Important Cultural Property of Japan.
In March 2017, Mr, Yamaguchi also got historycal proprrty for "Important Chinese Art from Fujita Museum" sale that realized over $260M and became world auction record of any Asian art sales.
Mr. Yamaguchi began his career at Christie’s in 1992 as a Graduate Trainee in London. He then moved to Tokyo, Japan as an Assistant Specialist for Japanese Paintings in 1994. He continued to move from strength to strength in that department rising to the position of Associate Director, Business Development in 1997 and Senior Specialist in 2000. In 2004 Mr. Yamaguchi assumed the responsibilities he had as Senior Vice President and was given the role of International Director in addition to that in 2007. Mr. Yamaguchi currently works in Tokyo office from July 2017 as SVP and International Director of Asian art.
A native of Japan, he was educated at Gyosei Gakuen (L’Ecole de l’Etoile du Matin) High School. Mr. Yamaguchi then earned his B.A. at Rikkyo (St. Paul’s) University in Tokyo. He is currently guest professor for Kyoto University of Art and Design, a member of Japanese Art Society of America, Director for The Adachi Foundation and a Director for the International Ukiyo-e Society.
