Kutani Ware with a Touch of Playful Whimsy | Keigo Kamide

Kamide states, 'While embracing the constraints of Kutani ware's history and techniques, I don't view it solely as traditional craft, but as something new.' As the sixth-generation head of the Kutani ware kiln, the Choemon Kamide Kiln, he also possesses a facet as a young artist. While inheriting solid techniques, he engages in creating uniquely original works, such as objects with bananas as motifs or confectionery jars shaped like skulls, adorned with the traditional 'Hana-tsumi' pattern.
http://www.choemon.com

Goldfish Expressed Through Various Techniques | Ryusuke Fukahori

In 2000, when Fukahori was in a slump and thinking of quitting art, he happened to notice the goldfish he had been keeping casually. He found them to be 'supremely beautiful.' Fukahori calls this 'saving the goldfish' and has since focused on goldfish as a theme, releasing various works. His representative pieces are created using an original technique where he pours transparent resin into vessels like mas or tubs, and then paints goldfish on the hardened surface with acrylic paints, repeating this process. The three-dimensional effect, unlike a painting, is captivating.
http://goldfishing.info

Gentle Fabrics Dyed Solely with Plants | Someji Yoshioka

Colors are extracted from roots of purple gromwell, petals of safflower, roots of madder, and leaves and stems of aryl. Using Fushimi water drawn from 100 meters underground, natural materials such as silk, linen, and cotton are dyed repeatedly by hand. The resulting hues, dyed in 'traditional Japanese colors,' are endlessly gentle and soft. This method is a traditional dyeing and weaving technique perfected in Japan between the 5th and 6th centuries. This exhibition features a variety of works that enrich daily life, including stoles, screens, and cushions.
http://www.sachio-yoshioka.com

Modern Designs That Defy the Image of Kamakura-bori | Hakukodo

Hakukodo, a long-established maker of Kamakura-bori. The pieces, crafted with solid techniques passed down through generations, exude both simplicity and depth. They have always been ahead of their time, such as by devising 'Hikuchi-nuri' (dry lacquer coating) that creates shading, or by uniquely designing various flora and fauna. The 'Teguri Kobako Karakusa' (hand-carved small box with arabesque pattern), which expresses traditional motifs in a modern and bold manner, surprises viewers.
http://www.kamakurabori.org

Lamps Made of Wood and Paper, Suited for Modern Architecture | Kohseki

'If you build a building to last 100 years, you should make lighting that lasts just as long.' Based on this belief, they produce original Japanese lighting. Kohseki's lighting, originating from the pinnacle of Sukiya carpenters, Gaiji Nakamura, who loved the warmth of wood and knew its properties thoroughly, features a clean design using wood and paper that evokes Sukiya architecture. High-quality Yoshino cedar is assembled without nails, and Mino washi paper is applied. Kohseki was involved in the preparation of sacred treasures for the Ise Grand Shrine's Shikinen Sengu (rebuilding ceremony).

http://www.kohseki.com

Powerful Paper Cuttings Expressing the Breath of Life | Risa Fukui

A rising paper cutting artist who demonstrates her talent in projects across various fields, including music, film, and fashion. Her work is characterized by exquisite detail and bold composition, with a power that makes it unforgettable once seen. Her pieces, featuring humans, animals, and plants as motifs, use layers of lines to powerfully express the breath of life, transcending our preconceived notions of 'paper cutting' with their potent energy.
http://risafukui.jp