AKARI
Focusing on Ise-katagami, which has a history of more than 1,000 years, the goal was to create a work that could transmit the ancient Japanese kimono design to the world, even if in a different form, and also introduce a wide range of traditional Japanese techniques.
The key point was how to faithfully reproduce the delicate hand-engraving technique and design. To solve this problem, the latest technique (etching) was used to copy (metallize) the detailed design.
Traditional Japanese patterns are projected using the latest light technology to create a "fantastic healing space.
For the light source, colors close to natural light were used to make the light familiar to people without any sense of discomfort.
In Japan, there are numerous traditional crafts using ancient designs and techniques. We have developed lighting devices that transform these traditional designs and crafts into lampshades and fuse them with the latest electronics technology to create fantastic and healing spaces.
We propose a peaceful and rich lifestyle for residential spaces through the production of light. We focused on katagami, which has been used in dyeing, a traditional Japanese craft. We aimed to create products that would preserve this wonderful traditional Japanese technique and work design for future generations.
We aimed to create a product that could transmit the ancient Japanese kimono design to the world, even if in a different form, and at the same time introduce a wide range of traditional Japanese techniques.
The beauty of traditional Japanese delicate patterns and designs are used in the lampshade, and the patterns projected by the latest lighting technology are projected as shadow pictures in the room space.
Ise-katagami is a dyeing stencil used to dye patterns and designs on kimono fabric.It has flourished for more than 1,000 years centered in the Shirako and Teraya areas of Suzuka City, Mie Prefecture.
Three sheets of Japanese paper are laminated together with persimmon tannin, and the skilled technique and spirit are concentrated on the fingertips on the processed kataji paper.
The artisan concentrates his skill and spirit on the processed katagami and carves it out. The origin of Ise-katagami is not clear.
However, there is a picture of a katagami craftsman from the Muromachi period (1336-1573). In the Edo period (1603-1867), most orders for Ise-katagami came from all over Japan.
Most of the orders came to Shirako and Teraya, and it developed very well.
2017 Awarded Omotenashi Selection
2018 Cover of the November issue of ANA in-flight magazine "WINGSPAN" (international edition)
2019 Selected for Challenge Local Cool Japan in Paris, a project of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, and exhibited at Maison wa, Paris from April
2019 Selected as one of the 100 best in Japan (TAKUMI NEXT 2019) by JETRO, an independent administrative agency of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry
2020 Selected as one of the 100 best in Japan (TAKUMI NEXT 2020) by JETRO, an independent administrative agency of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, for two consecutive years
2023 Selected for the Excellence Award in the Japanese Culture Promotion Project and the Japanese Culture Grand Prix