Pioneer of exquisite plaques

Ahalf-century ago, b Prize pioneered the development of lacquered-wood plaques. It has since developed and produced other high-quality goods, such as makie plaques. Of special note in this regard is the plaque that it created in collaboration with Sakamoto Urushi Manufacturing Co., an acclaimed Aizu lacquerware manufacturer. The resulting makie piece, created by applying the best lacquer technique to natural Japanese Bigleaf Magnolia, was acquired for the permanent collection of the Museum of Modern Art in New York.

Aizulacquerware: a collaboration of craftsmen
who combine their hearts and skills

Producing Aizu lacquerware entails a number of processes, including the shaping of raw materials, painting, and decorative finishing, such as makie and chinkin. Different experts are involved in each process. And even among painters, the specialty is divided according to the shape of the tableware. In this way, a number of craftsmen, each of them highly specialized, collaborate to achieve high product quality and efficient production. Aizu lacquerware is characterized by the use of a number of techniques, such as “hananuri,” which involves adding oil to the lacquer to produce a distinctly elegant gloss; “chinkin,” which involves inlaying gold powder into grooves inscribed in the lacquer; and “taka-makie,” in which designs are brought out in relief. Only when craftsmen are able successfully to unite their skills and their hearts can a piece of lacquerware be brought into existence.

Adorning memorable moments of life with AIzu lacquerware

Trophies and plaques can add to memorable occasions in a person’s life, highlighting recognition that he or she achieves or marking significant events such as anniversaries. b Prize always bears in mind the need to produce items that reflect the importance of the event or milestone being commemorated, special care being given to selecting the appropriate materials and production methods. Going forward, b Prize remains committed to manufacturing quality products that employ a variety of Aizu lacquerware techniques.

Tradition passed on from generation to generation

Craftsmen producing Edo kiriko adopted cutting techniques imported from Europe during the Meiji Period and this tradition has been kept alive by succeeding generations, who have now incorporated modern industrial techniques into its production. But the foundation of the craft continues to be designs that evoke nostalgia for the Edo Period.

Glassware derived from collaboration between glass and kiriko artisans

The furnace used to melt glass lies at the heart of Hirota Glass’s operations. With temperatures kept constant at between 1400 to 1500 degrees Celsius, the furnace never stops operating for a four-to-five year period. Artisans carefully give shape to the glass, which is then handed over to kiriko professionals who engrave the glassware’s intricate designs. This collaboration between artisans who shape the glass and those that engrave the designs has been the key element behind the manufacture of Edo kiriko for more than 100 years.

Product revivals that evoke nostalgia and novelty

, Hirota Glass is expanding its vision beyond tableware to products which evoke nostalgia while embodying innovative designs. In this regard, the company is actively engaged in the development of a line of “revival products,” where it is giving second life to items issued in the past. One example is “Taisho Romance Glass.” which is produced by using a special technique called nyuhaku aburidashi to create scouring rush patterns, a traditional stripe design.

Craft is the element that enhances
the attractiveness of everyday items

Besides functionality, furniture and other accessories must be made of suitable materials and be skillfully crafted. There is no need for excessive decoration. atelier m4 has the skills necessary to produce designs that suit the lifestyles of end users. By refocusing on the appeal of high-quality craftwork, the company is aiming to build products that succeed by being “neither handcrafted nor industrial.”

Enhancing the beauty of trees

When creating an accessory out of a piece of wood, atelier m4 shows respect to trees and strives to enhance the beauty of the wood it uses; it brings out the brilliance of the grain in a way that can only be done by making things by hand, one at a time. Through years of experience in woodwork, atelier m4 has built up the knowledge needed to make the best use of a tree’s nature. Utilizing this knowledge, the company is working assiduously to create works that fully express a tree’s charm. One of the ways it seeks to do this is by combining wood with different materials such as iron, aluminum, copper, and leather.

Product development in line with annual theme

Adecade ago, Tsujiyo adopted a policy of selecting an annual product development theme. Last year it was exterior items, this year it is interior items, such as pots for miniature bonsai and orchids. Each year, the challenge for the company is to successfully combine traditional techniques which have been handed down over the past 150 years with modern technology.

An abundance of technologies and inspiration

Sobachoko (bowls in which soba noodles are served) are created by combining techniques such as sometsuke, akae and shinogi. There are more than 500 such combinations, which produce richness in hues and variety in design concepts. Tsujiyo is capable of handling all porcelain-related processes from under- and over-glazing, transfer printing and color glazing to mass production using gypsum molding. In recent years it has been engaged in the development of products using a water-repellent process patented by Saga Prefecture and in the development of technology for shaping plaster molds using CAD.

Bearer of a new porcelain culture

Satoshi Tsuji is the seventh owner of Tsujiyo’s Yozan kiln. As the proponent of a new porcelain culture, he is attracting significant attention. He is the winner of the top prize for porcelain at the Ceramic Art Meshiwan Grand Prix Exhibition. Known for his exploration of the potential of traditional crafts, he has collaborated with an Edo-kiriko manufacturer to create a lamp that evokes a sentimental tone through the combination of an Edo-kiriko shade with an Arita ware base.

Tanei Quality

Because of the thickness of Mikawa cotton incorporating sashiko stitching, it is widely considered to be difficult to sew. Tanei, however, has earned an outstanding reputation for its ability to manufacture merchandise that is sewn accurately and carefully along the grain of the fabric.For the production of bags the fabric is cut by skilled craftsmen and is then trimmed and aligned by hand along the grain of the fabric. To ensure that the grain aligns evenly at the time of sewing, each piece of fabric is laid carefully atop the other one at a time. After the bags are sewn, they are inspected individually by an inspector to ensure that overall shape and finish are satisfactory and that there is deformation.This kind of individual crafting of bags permits no carelessness or compromise. On the production floor, the company endeavors to maintain its strong commitment to artisanal manufacturing.

Potential of Sashiko Fabic

The handles of Toyama Hamono’s scissors are designed to fit the shape of the user’s hand, so that when they are gripped force is transmitted efficiently to the cutting edge. Moreover, because of the use of Hitachi Yasuki Hagane, a brand of steel renowned for its hardness, the company’s pruning shears are light as well as highly durable.

Characteristics of Sashiko Fabic Bags

Tanei’s sashiko fabric has a different feel against the skin. In a judo match, unevenness on the reverse side of the sashiko material will cause welts to be raised when the uniform rubs against the body. Consequently, improvements have been made to the reverse side of Tanei’s sashiko fabric to prevent injuries to the skin. Because sashiko fabric, when used in judo uniforms, touches the skin directly, it adapts to the wearer. When used in bags, too, it adapts to the body of the person carrying it. Moreover, like leather which gets better with age, bags that use sashiko fabric change their texture with use and develop a unique “expression.”

Never-ending challenge

By combining a respect for tradition with new technologies, Toyama Hamono has created products that offer users both beauty and utility窶琶.e., both outstanding ergonomics-based design and unparalleled cutting ability. Capitalizing on the trust that it has cultivated among customers and the results it has obtained through its dedication to scissors for ueki and ikebana, the company is making inroads into new businesses, including joint product development with Ms. Miyuki Kaji, a well-respected specialist in rose research.

Work enriched by the experience and
skills of Toyama Hamono’s craftsmen

The keys to successfully forging cutlery are to achieve an optimum fire temperature and to hammer the steel with the appropriate strength and rhythm. Only a craftsmen’s five senses, honed through experience, can distinguish subtle differences between such temperatures and different strengths/rhythms. In producing scissors, a critical component is the cutting edge of the rear blade, which only a skilled craftsmen, working delicately by hand, can grind to achieve optimal sharpness. At the final stage of production, veteran craftsmen check the products one by one, making finer adjustments to ensure the best edge quality.

Beautiful & useful design,plus strong & light steel

The handles of Toyama Hamono’s scissors are designed to fit the shape of the user’s hand, so that when they are gripped force is transmitted efficiently to the cutting edge. Moreover, because of the use of Hitachi Yasuki Hagane, a brand of steel renowned for its hardness, the company’s pruning shears are light as well as highly durable.

Synergy of tradition and rationalization

Combining multigenerational traditions with today’s leading-edge technologies, Maruto Hasegawa continues to expand its product range to meet the needs of today’s customers. While ensuring that craftsmen continue to play key roles in manufacturing, the company has streamlined the work process at its workshop, enabling it to provide consistently high-quality products with a smaller number of elite craftsmen. What differentiates Maruto Hasegawa from others is its ability to strike a balance between tradition and rationalization; while treasuring tradition, it is able to apply modern tools that lower costs and promote the rationalization of its operations.

Talent development is a top priority

“Develop people, develop products and develop wealth.” Maruto Hasegawa believes that training people will generate quality products and wealth, and therefore invests a considerable amount into developing talent. It is always open to proposals from employees that challenge it to develop a new technology or a new product. The company provides a full range of support to employees seeking to enhance their individual production skills. Maruto Hasegawa’s hardworking and earnest employees take pride in working for one of Japan’s leading manufacturers. This gives rise to a sense of responsibility for the company窶蚤nd to the motivation to continue working to develop products that will be widely used around the world.

“Cutting” tools featuring utility and beauty

Everyday, new ideas

Prince Kogyo excels in particular at creating novelty goods. With the aim of producing better products, it challenges the status quo, looking for any room to make improvements. Flexibility is also its strength. The company is capable of incorporating customers’ opinions into actual products.

‘Brain-stimulating’ tools

In product development, Prince Kogyo’s aim is to create tools that more-than-ever “stimulate the brain.” Besides utility, its products must “add value,” which, for Prince Kogyo, means conveying surprise and excitement from the hands to brain, and vice versa. The company is operated by twin brothers, who work closely together on a daily basis to develop high-quality, easy-to-use products.

Kyushu’s folk-craft pottery

As a result of the acclaim bestowed upon it during the Mingei Movement, Koishiwara pottery became emblematic of the folk-craft pottery being produced in Kyushu. Its success in establishing “beauty in utility” rested on the techniques that were employed in its production. Today many young successors who are willing to carry on the torch are being groomed, suggesting a bright future for the region’s craft industry.

Distinct geometric design

“Tobikanna” is a decorative technique that results from carving only the top layer of half-dry clay with a springy metal blade while the wheel is rotating. This meeting of the tip of the blade with the spinning clay produces an orderly pattern of lines.

“Hakeme” is another decorative method in which a hake, or brush, is used to create the design. In a third technique, a kushi, or comb, may be used instead to create a design called “kushime.” It is also very interesting to see how different outcomes are created depending on how these tools are applied.

A variety of tones derived from the individuality of craftsmen

Koishiwara pottery is also distinguishable by glazing techniques such as “uchikake,” “nagashikake” and “namagake,” which produce simple and beautiful effects. The application of glazes by potters produceswarmth, rarity, and variety in their works.

Collaboration of music and lacquer

Last year Ichiwado took up the challenge of creating a “lacquered guitar” with a Takamatsu-based guitar craftsman. To produce the guitar, Ichiwado utilized a special technique called “suriurushi-nuri,” a process in which raw lacquer is applied delicately in small amounts to the surface of the guitar nine times. With the passage of years, the lacquered guitar surface will become increasingly transparent, showcasing the beauty of the grain of the underlying wood.

Commitment to reliability and safety

Because lacquer is highly antimicrobial, it is a raw material that is safe for the elderly and for children. Making best use of this attribute, Ichiwado develops toys which children can safely put into their mouths and products for the elderly which are hygienic and easy to hold. Unlike resin and pottery, lacquer does not conduct heat easily. Lacquered bowls, therefore, do not heat up rapidly when holding hot soup. Lacquered spoons and chopsticks are also light in weight. Determined to produce “safe and reliable lacquerware,” Ichiwado continues to work on innovating new products in collaboration with experts in various fields.

A product lineup that highlights the charm of Kagawa lacquerware

Ichiwado has worked with natural wood and lacquer for 92 years, producing a wide range of products through time-honored techniques. Its product line includes the Designer’s Collection, which is geared toward modern tastes, a series that highlights the beauty of colored lacquer, and a line of quality products for everyday use and for gifts. Ichiwado’s products bring the charms of Kagawa lacquerware into full view.

Technical capabilities enabling the company to use pure tin

Because tin is a soft metal, it is generally mixed with other metals to allow for easier processing. Despite the difficulties known to be associated with its processing, Nousaku uses 100% pure tin in its products. Capable of creating delicate craftworks out of pure tin, Nousaku is now aiming to develop techniques that bring out the best qualities of each metal, including hairline finishing on brass and silicon casting for the formation of intricate patterns.

Advantages of a comprehensive production system that covers all processes from planning to manufacturing

Nousaku offers a selection of materials, which it processes by using original silicon casting techniques. One of these is the raw casting method, which does not require firing and chemical treatment before casting. By choosing the optimum material and technique for each item, the company is able to create a high mix, low volume production environment. The flexibility of this system results from combining techniques from the old days with those of the present day, striking a balance between elaborate craftsmanship and machining capacity. The company’s comprehensive production system, which covers all phases of manufacturing from planning to production, enables it to maintain a consistently high quality in the goods that it produces.

Bold attempt to enter into new fields

In response to requests from customers in new fields such as construction, interior products, and art and fashion, Nousaku has begun custom-manufacturing items ranging from furniture and lighting equipment to interior materials and jewelry. This requires that it work hard each day to forge a new tradition, while continuing to respect the knowledge that has been handed down from the past, to preserve time-honored casting techniques, and to adhere to the mindset of craftsmen of the past.