Cat Noren

Product Description

Product Story

General Product Information

Since ancient times, noren featuring cat motifs have been cherished in Japan as lucky charms, with the iconic “maneki-neko” (beckoning cat) being a well-known example.
These charming cat designs are perfect for entrances to homes, cafés, or gift shops, offering a warm and welcoming touch to those who pass through.

With their simple yet elegant aesthetic, these noren blend beautifully into both Japanese-style and Western-style interiors.
They are also popular as gifts for cat lovers, bringing a subtle sense of comfort and a delightful piece of Japanese cultural tradition into everyday life.

 Product History

When did these crafts start to craft?：1200 years ago / 800AD / Heian period in Japan

Originally, noren were cloth curtains hung at the entrance of a shop, often bearing the store’s name or family crest—essentially serving as the “face” of the business.
Because they were highly visible to passersby, people at the time placed great importance on them.

In Kyoto, where many traditional homes were built in a long and narrow style often referred to as “eel beds,” noren became an essential part of daily life.
They not only shielded the interior from outside view, but also blocked cold winds in winter and created a sense of coolness in summer as they swayed in the breeze—making them deeply woven into everyday living.

However, as time has passed, noren have become a less common sight in modern households.
But that doesn’t mean their functions or charm have become obsolete.

In fact, the soothing presence and calming atmosphere that noren bring may be exactly what today’s fast-paced society needs.
With their unique blend of traditional Japanese aesthetics and compatibility with modern interior design, noren can add a refreshing touch to our daily lives.

In recent years, noren have also gained attention as an energy-saving solution.
By acting as room dividers, they help improve the efficiency of air conditioning and heating.

Why not consider bringing noren back into your home and rediscovering their timeless appeal?

Craftsman Story

Craftsman Profile

SHOBIEN KYOTO
Since our founding in 1963, our workshop has been captivated by wax dyeing and has devoted itself exclusively to wax.  
The greatest appeal lies in the gentleness and softness that wax cracking brings out. We strive to ensure that our customers truly appreciate the beauty of hand-painted work, and we will continue to work diligently without forgetting our pride and efforts as craftsmen. 

Craftsman Passion

I want to convey the beauty of roketsu-zome.

In roketsu-zome, melted wax is applied to fabric before it is dyed.
This wax acts as a resist—known as bōsen—to prevent colors from blending.
While Yuzen-zome uses colored paste for this purpose, roketsu-zome allows the wax to naturally crack during the process,
creating beautifully irregular and expressive patterns in the final dyed fabric.

We invite you to enjoy the charm of these organic, one-of-a-kind patterns that only roketsu-zome can offer.

Your Contribution to Craftsman

Customer Voice

Due to the market structure (link for full articles are attached bottom), craftsman have not known who the customer is and how customer reacts to their work. We made a “Message to Craftsman” box at purchase page. We will deliver all message to every craftsman. Our review will be also shared to craftsman so please leave your comment and evaluation on review section!

Income for Craftsman: Craftsman get only less than 10% of selling price?

As written above, craftsman have not controlled last phase of sales channel that resulting in selling price is set by third-party without craftsman’s recognition. There are some cases that only less than 10% of selling price is given to craftsman. We promise with our customer / craftsman that we offer the fair trade with craftsmen in our contract!

We made an article about above problem and our challenge. Please have a read from below link.
Current state of the Crafts Market / Benefits brought by Suigenkyo

Measurement

Width：88cm
Height：150cm
Weight：450g

Material & Caution

Materials

Cotton 100%

Caution

Individual Difference

Each piece is handmade, so there are individual differences even in the same series. We hope that you will understand the change by handmade.

Delivery Date

Please note that it will take about a month for delivery if we do not have the item in stock.