In Memoriam: Satoru Abe

SATORU ABE, one of Hawai`i most famous artist died on February 5, 2025 at the age of 98.  Thousands of his works rest in museums, public places and private collections.  He loved creating his works.  More than that, Satoru loved helping other artists, old and new artist, especially Japanese artist in Hawai`i find venues to show their works.

In 1979, the Honolulu Japanese Chamber of Commerce opened its first art exhibition, “Japanese Artists in Hawai`i” to promote business for its members and Japanese culture in Honolulu. The exhibition attracted many of Hawai`i’s finest artist including Satoru Abe, Tadashi Sato, Charles Higa, Harry Tachidana, Satoku Dung, Yuko O’Reilly and Reiko Mochinaga to mention a few.

Over 300 artists entered that first exhibition held in the Amfac Exhibition Hall, 400 hundred in the second exhibition.

Ten years later the Exhibition moved to the Honolulu School of Art [the old Linekona School]. Stanley Yamamoto, an acclaimed art teacher lead what was now called the Honolulu Japanese Chamber Annual Art Exhibition. The HJCC Exhibition became a juried selection exhibition.  Three judges selected by Stanley, reviewed the 200 to 350 entries each year and selected 60 to 100 works for exhibition.

Stanley set high standards for preparation for each exhibit: careful painting of all walls, art panels and stands for exhibition lighting.  Stanley selected Wayne Kawamoto, UH’s Art Gallery exhibition designer to assist with the exhibition taking it to another  level of excellence.

Every year the HJCC art show committee made special invitations to Hawai`i top artists, posted invitations on most colleges notice boards, and place small ads in the newspapers and radio.

In 2003, the HJCC Art Exhibition celebrated its 25th anniversary and we were concerned as Satoru Abe and Tadashi Sato did not respond to their invitation letters.  On registration day, we were thrilled when Satoru and Tadashi marched in announcing loudly “We could not miss Honolulu Japanese Chamber of Commerce’s 25th Anniversary Art Exhibition!”  It would be Sato’s last exhibition as he passed away in May 2004.

After the passing of Tadashi Sato, in honor this great artist, Stanley Yamamoto introduced a new feature in the HJCC Annual Art Exhibition: “The Master Artist of Hawai`i.”  An opening night tradition with a spoken tribute of artist and his or her works was made.  Works of the honored artist were to be shown.

Satoru Abe was honored the following year as the HJCC Master Artist with five of his works exhibited.

A little more about Satoru Abe, the man and his life.  He was born into an average family, struggled in high school, McKinley, because he had dyslexia. “But,” he said, “as an artist dyslexia was a good thing, because it opened my mind to hundreds of new art ideas.”

Like many Hawai`i artists, he went to study art on the East Coast of the U. S., spent months in art museums.  They worked at odd jobs to support themselves.  They boarded and partied together.  They worked their art.  Satoru’s art is metal, mostly copper and bronze, ranging from life size figures to small objects.

When Satoru returned to Hawai`i, he began in a small workshop in Waianae.  As his fame grew, he moved to his home on 10th Avenue in Kaimuki, where he had his shop next to his garage.  In later years he built a three story art studio and office two blocks from his Kaimuki home.

The art community in Hawai`i is close.  Many artists are close friends.  They party and drink together.  Some like Tadashi Sato, who lived on Maui, liked fishing.  Satoru and other artists often joined  Tadashi fishing at his favorite fishing spots on North Maui, and popped a few.  On Oahu there was a tavern on Beretania Street that was their favorite watering hole, Satoru and his friends would gather there and talked story.

On each opening night of the HJCC Art Exhibition, guest feasted on light pupus and sake.  One of exhibition workers brought quality sake.  Satoru on one opening night brought two bottles of even better sake for this friends and other guests.

Good and great artists never retire.  Creating their art is like breathing. No matter how successful, how much fame and money they gain, they cannot stop. As long as the mind works and the body permits, they continue their art. Even in a wheel chair Satoru pursued his art with joy.  Seven or eights months ago, First Hawaiian Bank ran a video in their branches of Satoru Abe laughing as he was pushed in his wheel chair by Walther Dods, FHB’s former Chairman and long time friend and patron of Satoru.

Satoru Abe’s best seen work is live size metal figures standing at the entrance of First Hawaiian Bank’s Tower on South King Street, Honolulu, Hawai`i.

The Honolulu Japanese Chamber of Commerce is forever grateful for the contributions Satoru Abe and his many artist friends had on our Art Exhibition “Commitment to Excellence.”