There has always been strong interest in traditional Japanese culture in Australia - from haiku to kimonos - but the collecting of contemporary Japanese art is a relatively recent phenomenon. The transition from traditional to modern may appear dramatic yet in many cases it is simply a matter of generational change.

Take the work of Takahiro Kondo. His ceramic monoliths (some are close to two metres high) are unmistakeably modern in design but are inspired by the sometsuke (cobalt blue underglaze) technique, notably the work of his father and grandfather, both celebrated ceramic artists.

Kondo's grandfather is Kondo Yuzo, named a "living national treasure" because of his mastery of sometsuke. Kondo has taken this traditional style to a new level, developing a striking new technique called gintekisai, which is the subject of an international patent. The word roughly translates as "rain frozen through fire".

As an indication of his contemporary approach, he is exploring the use of crude-oil waste as a ceramic material.

Takahiro Kondo prefers to be seen as an international rather than a purely Japanese artist. He sees his work as sculpture in the broad sense rather than decoration or craft. There is no discrimination between art and craft in Japanese culture.

The rest of the world appears to agree with him. Kondo's work is included in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York and his exhibitions are usually sell-outs wherever they are held.

Kondo is one of a number of young Japanese artists (young in Japanese terms means anyone under the age of 50) to have been embraced by the Western world. Others include Ikeda Masuo whose contemporary prints were the subject of a one-man exhibition at New York's Museum of Modern Art in 1965. He was the first Japanese artist to be given a MoMA solo show. In 1966, he won the grand prix at the 33rd Venice Biennale.

A selection of Masuo's prints will be included in the Japanese Cool 08 exhibition at Kozminsky in Melbourne from July 17 to August 9. Also on show will be a selection of contemporary ceramics and some of the lacquer art of Kitamura Tatsuo, who works under the name Unryuan.

Unryuan is regarded as the foremost contemporary artist working in this traditional Japanese technique.

In 2002, he had a solo show at London's Victoria & Albert Museum and in 2006 was featured at the Art Gallery of NSW as part of the Australia-Japan year of exchange. Also that year, he and six other lacquer artists were featured at an exhibition at the Hamilton Art Gallery in rural Victoria where Unryuan agreed to hold a seminar and workshop.

This was a world first for Hamilton.

Japanese artists rarely reveal their techniques, which are usually handed down privately from father to son or master to apprentice.

Unryuan is noted for being the first artist to successfully apply shell inlay to red lacquer wares. The shell inlay technique died out in the late 19th century but Unryuan rediscovered the process through years of experimentation and is using it to create contemporary objects.

It is this combination of the traditional and contemporary that makes modern Japanese art desirable in the global market. Many collectors are those who began with traditional art but now concentrate on the contemporary work. Part of the appeal is that some of the work is intended to be used. Unryuan makes sake cups, for example.

Interest in this new style began to emerge in the 1990s, with a new wave of younger collectors joining in since the AGNSW show of 2006.

There's a small but dedicated group of Australian Kondo admirers who will be fascinated to see his latest work at his one-man show at 101 Collins Street in Melbourne from August 18 to September 5.

Takahiro Kondo is coming to Australia for the first time to launch the show. Inquiries to lesley@kehoe.com.au.

My collection

Lesley Kehoe made her first trip to Japan in 1973 as a Monash University honours student. While there, she bought her first example of Japanese art with money sent for her 19th birthday. The first piece was a 19th-century print by Utagawa Toyokuni that she still owns.

This purchase was the start of a lifetime's fascination with Japanese art, both traditional and modern.

A fluent speaker of Japanese, she has since established an international reputation as a discerning dealer in old and new Japanese art, specialising in lacquer and ceramics. Her private collection includes some of the latest work by Takahiro Kondo. Her interest in his art has led to her staging his one-man show at 101 Collins Street, Melbourne and organising a personal visit by the artist.

Kehoe has noticed a resonance of Japanese contemporary works with Australian indigenous art and would one day like to curate a show along these lines.

In her personal collection is a piece by emerging Japanese artist Miyazawa Akira (see Starter Guide) that demonstrates this synchronicity.

$1500

Made in 1996 but already considered a classic, this "vessel" by Kondo shows the fusion of traditional and contemporary styles.

$2000

Kondo's small ceramic boxes show his "rain frozen through fire" glaze, the subject of an international patent.

$5000

From the collection of Lesley Kehoe, this ceramic work by Miyazawa Akira is typical of the modern Japanese approach to a traditional artform. A similarity to Aboriginal design is apparent.