Since its founding in 1816 as a producer of metal pots or yakan in Tsubame-Sanjo, Niigata Prefecture, Gyokusendo has been producing items using the hammering technique of copperware. In recent years, Gyokusendo has actively engaged in industrial tourism, allowing visitors to experience the charm of craftsmanship in the production area.Following the Tsubame flagship store in Tsubame City, Niigata P...

The Tsutsumi Asakichi Urushi Store, founded in Kyoto in 1909, procures, refines, blends, and colors lacquer sap. As well as handling the sales of lacquer art materials and tools. The store has developed its own lacquer with superior weather resistance, which has been employed for the restoration of National Treasures and Important Cultural Properties such as the Nikko Toshogu Shrine and Himeji Cas...

Artisans who work with glass every day have created new designs, striving to enhance the beauty of glass. These new creations, designed to seamlessly blend into daily life and add a touch of color, have resulted in the birth of 17 series this year.“Hasande hasande” is available in two plate sizes and a small bowl, featuring a beautiful design created by the unevenness of the surface that plays wit...

From February 21 to 26, 2024, an exhibition of woodworking artist Shingo Tsukuda’s works was held at the Yokohama Takashimaya Art Gallery, Yokohama, Kanagawa Prefecture. Shingo, who exhibits in various galleries, holds exhibitions at Nihonbashi Takashimaya and Yokohama Takashimaya almost every other year, and this exhibition marked his third solo exhibition. Born in Nagahama, Shiga Prefectur...

The exhibition “Mastering the Art: Exploring the Cultural Messages Connoted in Japanese Works” will be held from March 20 to 24, 2024. It will showcase works by holders of Important Intangible Cultural Property (Living National Treasures) and artists who preserve craft techniques to pass on to the next generation. The venue is the Former Imperial Guards Headquarters in Kitanomaru Garden, Chiyoda C...

“Shibui” is one of Japan’s traditional aesthetics, expressing a deep-seated charm. Although commonly used to describe flavors, as for tea or wine, the term is versatile and finds its way into everyday language, describing not only taste but also colors or expressions, such as color is “shibui colors” or “wearing a shibui expression.”The kanji character “渋” (shib...

On November 17 and 18, 2023, the event “Go Forward 2023” was organized by “NEXTRAD,” a team of 13 kiln owners from Imari and Arita in Saga Prefecture working to ensure a sustainable future for the Arita ware industry. The event aimed to raise awareness about the craftsmanship of Arita ware and the current situation and challenges faced by the industry. It featured exhibitio...

From November 18 to 26, 2023, ceramic artist Hideki Yanashita held an exhibition of his works at Japanese pottery gallery TOBETOBEKUSA in Hatchobori, Chuo-ku, Tokyo. This marks the sixth time that Hideki has held a solo exhibition at the gallery, and exactly one year since the last one there.After graduating from Kuwasawa Design School in Tokyo, Hideki trained in Shigaraki and built an ana-gama ki...

The international trade show for interior and design, “MAISON&OBJET” is scheduled to be held from January 18 to 22, 2024, at the Paris Nord Villepinte Exhibition Centre in France. This exhibition, which began in 1994, takes place biannually in January and September, attracting companies worldwide involved in various lifestyle aspects such as furniture, lighting, textiles, interior decoration, ...

How did the Ryuhaku glaze, which has become synonymous with your work, come about?There are three historic kiln sites in Sonose, and one can still find many pieces of ceramics scattered at the foot of the kilns. The fragments from that time often have a different texture than the current image of Hagi ware, and can evoke surprisingly new and different feelings as well. One of them had a coloring s...

Aizawa Wood Works was founded in 1974 in Wajima, Ishikawa Prefecture, as a woodturner specializing in making wooden vessels for lacquerware. They produce various items using a wide range of wood processing techniques, including sashimono (joinery), magemono (bentwood), rokuro (spinning lathe), and kurimono (hollowing). They also place emphasis on their original brands, which are popular for the na...

Kyoto Marubeni Co., Ltd, a company specializing in kimono business, has collaborated with V&A (Victoria and Albert Museum), one of the world’s leading museums for art, design, and performance, founded in London, Britain. Their first collaborative kimono collection has debuted on Kyoto Marubeni’s online shop.This collaboration came to fruition as both parties resonated with the mutual appreciat...