Meet The Artisans

【Swordsmith】Interview with Masahira Fujiyasu

Masahira Fujiyasu, a swordsmith who has Masahira Forge in Fukushima City, Fukushima Prefecture and makes Japanese swords. Mr. Munehiro Shibata, a bow store ow...

【Kyoto tatami】Interview with Yoshihisa Fujii

Fujii tatami founded in 1868 has come a long way over the years. Today, the company has extended their product lineup such as cosmetic pouches, plastic bottle...

【Kyoto bow】Interview with Munehiro Shibata

Naughty childhood The Shibata Kanjuro Bow Shop, which has been in business since the Warring States Period (1467-1615), still has a bow store in Kiyomizu Gojo...

【Kyo-Yuzen】Interview with Akihiro Uenaka

Huduru Kogei is a workshop in Kadonooji Hachijo, Kyoto Prefecture, that processes gold leaf used in Kyoto Yuzen. The name “Huduru” is written with the Chinese...

【Sanada-Himo】Interview with Isao Wada

Sanada-himo is a flat cord woven with warp and weft yarns using a loom. It is said to be the world’s narrowest weave, measuring only 6 mm at its narrowest poi...

【Kyo-Hyogu】Interview with Mitsunori Onozawa

Kyo-Hyogu Onozawa Studio is located in Kamigyo-Ku, Kyoto City. There is the workshop in a residential area, and the workshop has no TV and radio. It was the p...

【Iga-Kumihimo Craftsman】 Interview with Mr. Hirai

Kumihimo Hirai has been making Kumihimo for 65 years in Iga city, Mie Prefecture. When I stepped into their workshop, I saw craftspeople working in silence to...

【Nara sumi】Interview with Mr. Nagano

for generations, and it is a long-established business with a history of more than 100 years. Upon entering the workshop through the black “Sumi” curtain, we ...

【Boshu Uchiwa】Interview with Ms. Ishiyama

Our interview this time was with Yoshimi Ishiyama, who naturally smiles when she talks about bamboo. Her latest hobby is practicing an instrument called shou,...

【Edo hand-painted paper lantern】Interview with Mr. Murata

“The secret to writing something beautifully is to focus on its balance. Anyone can do it if they write slowly with an awareness of evenly spaced letters” Ken...