Handmade d Japan

8/19/2019 Handmade d Japan

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HANDMADE – JAPAN@ Craft London12-14 January 2014


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Tsuge (boxwood) combs from the Satsuma region of Japan aremade with wood from the Ibusuki region of KagoshimaPrefecture, and date back to the mid-Edo period (1716-1789).Satsuma boxwood is valued for its dense quality, which helpsto prevent the comb teeth from breaking, and for itsbeautifully lustrous sheen.

To create the combs, boxwood is harvested, cut into comb

shapes, naturally air-dried, then hung to create a definedcurve. The wood is then smoked for several days. This smokingis a unique production stage, conducted only by Kita TsugeSeisakujo, and results in finer colour and shine in the finishedproduct. The combs are then planed and the teeth shaped andfinished. Finally, the combs are finished with multiple coatingsof camellia oil.

These combs do not create the static electricity that canresult from combs made from artificial materials, and are kindto the hair. They improve over time, gaining a deep shine.These are products to treasure for a lifetime.

Boxwood Combs and Brushes by Kita Tsuge Seisakujo

Kita Tsuge Seisakujo2-24-13 Omure, Ibusuki-shi, Kagoshima,891-0401 [email protected]://www.kushi.jp

Kobo Aki bags are created to embody the key design themesof the atelier: lightweight, soft, simple, easy-to-use. Workingonly with leather, Kobo Aki seeks out new creative expressionsof these themes through tireless experimentation.

Leather is a material to be treasured, a gift from the animalsfrom which it is derived. Kobo Aki is committed to

communicating the inherent beauty of the texture and sheenof natural leather, Bags are created to ensure that, over time,they will grow supple and develop a rich lustre. Thecharacteristics of each piece of this luxury material handleddefines how each bag is made, with the hope of translatingthe natural beauty of leather into practical bags which arenevertheless a joy to own. Kobo Aki bags are classicinvestment pieces which can adapt to meet the diverse needsof modern women.

Handmade Leather Bags by Kobo Aki

Kobo Aki 7-48-14 Okusawa, Setagaya-ku, Tokyo,158-0083 [email protected]://www.koubou-aki.net/

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Geta are a type of wooden-soled sandal that have long beenprized in Japan—where the feet are said to be a “secondheart”—as a hygienic and health-conscious footwear choice.Chiezo has updated the geta tradition with sandals that arecomfortable to wear without compromising on style. Chiezo geta soles are crafted from high-quality mahogany andfinished with a uniquely shaped cloth thong which cradles theentire foot and has been designed to prevent chafing. Unlike

traditional geta, this thong is attached to each side of thesole, making for a much better fit and a more Western look.

Chiezo geta are the perfect match for kimono but workequally well with skirts, dresses, and jeans, giving a hint of

Japanese chic to any outfit. They are also great for your feet.In Japan, geta are recommended to people suffering fromvarious foot problems, including bunions. They also stimulatepressure points on the feet.

Geta Sandals by Chiezo

Chiezo31-8 Higashi-machi, Kurume, Fukuoka,830-0032 [email protected]://www.chiezo.me/index.html

The Daigamori area has a long history of ceramics, thanks toits soil, which is rich with copper and iron, and has high levelsof lignite. This sort of volcanic cohesive soil is ideal for makingpottery. In 1976, Shosai Abe, the founder of the Daigamoriyakibrand, built three types of kiln in Daigamori: up-draft,down-draft, and through-draft. These three kilns are used tofire locally sourced clay into the range of cookware and

tableware that makes up the Daigamoriyaki brand.

In particular, Daigamoriyaki ceramic plates are excellent tocook on, thanks to the infrared effect of the material. Thisensures that the heat penetrates right through to the core ofthe ingredients, be it fish, meat, or vegetables. These platesare ideal for drawing out the natural deliciousness ofingredients, and make it so simple to cook authentic tobancuisine. The brand also produces a range of “cookware formen”, of which the gohan-kama, or rice cooker, is the bestselling item.

Ceramic Cookware by Daigamoriyaki

Daigamoriyaki 2-11-28 Rembo, Wakabayashi-ku,Sendai-shi, Miyagi, 984-0052 [email protected]://www.daigamori.jp/

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Oshima Tsumugi silk pongee is decorated with distinctive andbeautifully fine ikat patterning, dyed with colorants derivedfrom yeddo hawthorn and mud. It is a soft, light, anduser-friendly cloth which does not easily wrinkle.

Early Oshima Tsumugi silk pongee was woven usinghand-spun threads on a traditional loom, and was made forcommoners’ use. An edict in 1720 temporarily made wearing

the pongee the privilege of the ruling clan only, but by the1870s, commercial trade had begun and the fabric was soon ahit across Japan.

It was also around this time that the method of dyeing silkpongee with mud, unique to the island of Amami Oshima,became established. In 1895, glossed thread began to be used,and in 1897, a more sophisticated loom was introduced,greatly enhancing production efficiency. In 1902, bindingmachines were developed, which marked the beginnings ofthe technology that allows producers today to create OshimaTsumugi silk pongee with such intricate and detailed patterns.

Oshima Tsumugi Silk Pongee by Hajime Shoji

Hajime Shoji30-1 Naze Ariyacho, Amami-shi, Kagoshima,894-0062 [email protected]://hajimeshoji.com/

Akoya pearl oysters suffered rapid population depletion in Japan as a result of over-exploitation in the quest for naturalpearls. In response, there was a move to protect and topropagate pearl oyster stocks, as well as to take up thechallenge of pearl cultivation. Over time, experts in Japandeveloped the technical skills necessary to successfullycultivate pearls of outstanding quality.

Tensei Pearl cultivates pearls along the jagged coastline of theUwa sea in Ehime prefecture. Here, the beautiful waters andgentle tides provide the perfect environment for pearlcultivation, which started in the region in 1907. Tensei Pearlcultivates pearls under a strict policy designed to ensureconsistently high quality: pearls must be beautiful andlong-lasting.

Tensei Pearl is involved at every stage, from cultivation toharvesting, sorting to designing, and finally sales. Tensei Pearl accessories are carefully created by hand to showcase thenatural and lustrous beauty of each individual pearl. The rangeincludes necklaces, earrings, rings, and pendants.

Tensei Pearl by Tensei Pearl

Tensei Pearl230-2 Tsushimacho Naru, Uwajima-shi,Ehime, 798-3333 [email protected]://www.tenseipearl.jp/

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At Nakazawa, production starts by selecting which parts of theleather to be used, through a careful process of consideringhow the seams will appear and the direction of fibres. Thisseemingly simple stage is a vital step in creating bags ofsuperior quality. It is critical that the leather be cut in such away as to ensure the leather looks as beautiful as possible.This may sound obvious, but this fundamental stage requireshigh levels of expertise and experience.

Ultra-thin leather is used at Nakazawa; this means that bothskill and concentration are required to create the bags. Morethan 50 parts are used for each bag, and at each seam thestitching must be evenly spaced and flawlessly beautiful. Thismay also seem simple, but such attention to detail is the markof highly skilled craftspeople, working according to more than80 years of leather craft tradition.

Handmade Leather Bags by Nakazawa

Nakazawa3-18-11 Yotsugi, Katsushika-ku, Tokyo,124-0011 [email protected]://nakazawa.pos.to/

The unique style of Wakasa-nuri lacquer technique layersurushi lacquer over shell and egg s hell to create patterns thatrecall shimmering ocean depths. Wakasa-nuri lacquerchopsticks are a distillation of the history and the creativity ofthe Wakasa-nuri technique. The chopsticks crafted byFujimoto Shoten are designed to fit perfectly into the modernlifestyle, while still representing the time-honoured traditions

of Wakasa-nuri.

The beginnings of Wakasa-nuri are said to lie in the 17thcentury, with a lacquer craftsman who was inspired by aparticular type of gilded lacquer painting from China and bythe glittering patterns of the ocean floor. The golden age ofWakasa-nuri was during the mid to late Edo period(1716-1867), when it was used to gether with gold leafstamping and grinding (aogai blue shell, egg shell),mother-of-pearl inlay, and maki-e powder sprinklingtechniques were all used concurrently. It is said that over 200techniques for use in Wakasa-nuri were perfected during thisperiod.

Wakasa-nuri Chopsticks by Fujimoto Shoten

Fujimoto Shoten13 Akasakacho Akasaka, Fukuyama-shi,Hiroshima, 720-0843 [email protected]://nttbj.itp.ne.jp/0849511561/index.html

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Tetsubin cast iron teapots are made by pouring liquid iron intoa mould. Traditionally, the body, spout, lid, and knob would becast, while the handle would be hammered by blacksmiths.

Handmade ironware has historically been very expensive, dueto its intensive production process. Even during the Kamakuraperiod (1185-1333), ironware was too expensive to become anitem in common use. In the Meiji period, mechanisation of

some processes made it possible to make ironware at aslightly greater volume, but to this day it remains a high valueand luxury item.

The traditionally made and elegantly decorated cast ironteapots from Nishimura Shojudo feature copper lids withplum-shaped knobs and nari-gane, iron pieces inlaid in thebase which “sing” when the water boils. They are ideal for teaceremony use but just as suitable as an everyday item. Ironfrom ironware is much more readily absorbable into the bodythan iron contained in food, so regular use may help toprevent mild anemia.

Iron Teapots by Nishimura Shojudo

Nishimura Shojudo484-2 Nakanocho, Shimogyo-ku,Kyoto-shi, Kyoto, 600-8032 [email protected]://www.web-douguya.com/

These sweet and versatile cloth bags with metal clasps areknown as gamaguchi, literally “toad mouths”, and combinetraditional techniques with modern and colourful Kyotofabrics.

The history of the gamaguchi clasped purse dates back to theMeiji period (1868-1912), when it was first introduced in the

early 1870s. A critical factor in the rising popularity ofgamaguchi was likely the issue, by the national government,of low value bills, as well as the introduction of clasps madefrom cheaper metal, which drove the price of the bags down.The steady Westernisation of Japanese fashion and lifestyleswould also have been a factor.

Kataoka gamaguchi bags are all made with textiles featuringoriginal designs. They are large enough to fit credit cards(short side up). They can also be used to hold keys, medicine,and small items. Each bag is strengthened with elastic in thebase, as has piping around the outside, to ensure durabilityand help the bag to hold its shape.

Gamaguchi Clasped Cloth Bags by Kataoka

Kataoka1-57-3 Bunkicho, Higashiyama-ku,Kyoto-shi, Kyoto, 605-0028 [email protected]

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A range of beautiful traditional kimono and yukata, orsummer kimono, in sumptuous fabrics, stunning colours, andelegant patterns.

The kimono as we recognise it today dates back to the AzuchiMomoyama period (1573-1603), when the kosode robe, akimono robe with small sleeve openings previously worn as anundergarment, became an increasingly decorative outer

garment. The Edo period (1603-1867) was a golden age forkimono; the senshoku dyeing technique was also developed,allowing incomparable progress to be made with fabricdesign—depth, style and detail became possible to a levelunlike anything that had come before.

After the Meiji Revolution of 1868, fashion from the West wasintroduced, and over time the trend for wearing Westernclothes took hold. This move away from kimono only servedto highlight the distinctive elegance of thes e traditionalgarments. Today, kimono are rarely a part of people’severyday wardrobes, but Japan’s kimono tradition isincreasingly valued for its beauty and refinement.

Kimono by Tokyo Yamaki

Tokyo Yamaki 4-37-4 Ishiwara, Sumida-ku, Tokyo,130-0011 [email protected]://tansuya.jp/

Sakai forged blades are characterised by their very sharp bladeedge which is produced by hammer-welding an iron andcarbon steel blade edge. This combination of the relativelysoft iron and the hard edge creates a blade which does notbreak or bend easily and c uts exceedingly well. The Sakairegion is renowned for the production of various kinds ofkitchen knives for every purpose; it is said that most knives

that Japanese restaurant chefs use have Sakai forged bladeson them.

Sakai blades first came to prominence when the Edogovernment granted the Sakai craftsmen an official seal ofapproval, which led to Sakai products being sold all over thecountry. Later, during the Genroku era (1688-1704) of the Edoperiod, production of deba bocho, a uniquely shaped Japanesecooking knife, began in Sakai. This marked perhaps the mostimportant point in the beginning of the S akai knife brand as itcontinues to this day.

Sakai Forged Blades by Sakai Okuzen

Sakai Okuzen7-10-2 Miyake Naka, Matsubara-shi,Osaka, 580-0046 [email protected]://www.sakai-okuzen.com/

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These cosmetic brushes are the product of craft traditionrefined over 130 years. Superior quality animal hair is selected,after which more than 50 processes must be completed withmeticulous care to create a single brush.

Animal hair (variously goat, grey squirrel, pine squirrel, mink,water badger) is imported from overseas and allocated tobrush type by quality and finish. For some brushes, the hair

may be blended. Hairs are then checked fastidiously; eachstrand is inspected for breakage and twisting. Finally, the hairis bundled and tied, without being cut. The result is brushesthat are soft, s turdy, and genuinely long-lasting.

Kashoen blends respect for tradition in production with adynamic drive for innovation in design; above all, thecompany strives to create products which do justice to theelegance and beauty of traditional Japanese craftsmanship.The company’s aim is to grow its legion of satisfied customersby introducing people to products crafted with true skill andcare.

Cosmetic Brushes by Kashoen (Aizawa Kikaku)

Kashoen (Aizawa Kikaku)16-20 Sumiyoshicho, Naka-ku,Hiroshima-shi, Hiroshima, 730-0813 [email protected]://www.kashoen.jp/

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Aizawa Kikaku Ltd,.

Ohmiya nakacho centre building 8F,

Oomiya-ku Nakacho 2-23-2, Saitama shi, Saitama, 330-0845 JapanTel: +81(0)48 658 3000 Fax: +81(0)48 658 3001http://www.aizawakikaku.com [email protected]

Handmade d Japan

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