Momoyama Shoki / Kabuki

Product Description : Why is it so EXPENSIVE?

Product Story

General Product Information

This is the One-Of-A-Kind product that combines elements of the guardian god Shoki and anime characters.
The artist, Sho Sawanoi, was inspired by the anime character and applied the traditional Kyoto technique of "foil stamping" to the statue of Shoki.
A large amount of gold and silver leaf is used to give the statue a gorgeous and beautiful appearance.

What is Shoki?
A Taoist god from China with long whiskers and eyes that seem to be glaring at something.
It is believed that displaying a Shoki is effective in warding off disease, evil, and academic achievement.

We hope you will display it as a guardian deity of your home!

 Product History

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

It is estimated that the production of Kyo butsudan (Buddhist altars in Kyoto) began around the 8th century. The main characteristics of Kyo butsudan are their superior technology and quality. Each process is divided into detailed divisions of labor, and 40 craftsmen are involved in the creation of a Kyo butsudan. It can be said to be the crystallization of each craftsman's technical skills.

Kyo Butsudan Skill "foil stamping"
Kyo Butsudan foil stamping is characterized by the method of applying lacquer, wiping it off, and applying gold leaf.
Lacquer thirsts differently depending on humidity and temperature, and foil stamping requires a high level of skill and sensitivity in order to determine the degree of thirst.
This foil stamping technique is now used not only for Kyo-butsudan (Buddhist altars) but also for various art works.

Gold leaf of 1/10,000 mm!
Gold leaf is made by stretching approximately 2 grams of gold to the size of a tatami mat (1.62 m2), resulting in a thickness of 1/10,000 of a millimeter.
Since gold leaf is charged with static electricity, it cannot be touched directly with the fingers or brought close to metal. For this reason, gold leaf is handled with special bamboo tweezers.

Kyo butsudan (Buddhist altars) have preserved Kyoto's unique dignified luster thanks to the advanced technical skills of the gold leaf stamping process.

Craftsman Story

Craftsman Profile

Hakutonbo / Sho Sawanoi
Sho Sawanoi is the third generation of Hakutonbo, which has been continuing the tradition of foil stamping in Kyoto for more than 80 years. After working at an anime store for two years after graduating from university, he became an apprentice at Hakutonbo in 2013 as its successor.
He started to combine his previous hobby of subculture and foil stamping, and has been recognized for the high quality of his work.

Craftsman Passion

"Tradition x Subculture"
I thought that even if I became a person who produces in the conventional way, I would not be able to catch up with my predecessors. So, I came up with the idea of using traditional industry techniques to produce products in a field where no one else has tried.
I have been working in an anime store for many years, and I use my knowledge of the field I love and my traditional handiwork I learned from master to create products every day.
I would like to work so that the technique of foil stamping can reach more people in general.

Achievement

Shin Godzilla with foil stamping

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：20cm
Depth：10cm
Height：28cm
Weight：3,000g

Material & Caution

Materials

Soil
Gold leaf
Silver leaf

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 two months for delivery if we do not have the item in stock.