Japanese Craft
Japanese craftsmanship reflects centuries of history and the mastery of techniques passed down from generation to generation. Guided by deep respect for natural materials and time-honored methods, every piece carries a soul of its own. Within each creation lives the spirit of the maker and a quiet devotion to craft.
01
Sumi Ink
By Kinkoen
Tracing back to the 6th generation, Kinkoen was founded in Nara prefecture by the ancestor of the current master artisan, Nagano-san, now working together with his son. They have been making Sumi ink with the traditional method passed down from generation to generation.
The time-consuming whole-making process of Sumi ink takes 4 months to even a few years.
How to make Sumi ink
1.
It begins with burning oil lamps to collect soot, which is later blended with gelatin and ryū-noh (borneol) resin and kneaded together.
Ryū-noh is a precious crystallized resin used in Eastern medicine as well as in Japanese incense. This natural material is sourced from the Borneo camphor tree.
How to Use Sumi Ink
Put a little water using a pipette into a Suzuri stone and rub the Sumi ink held vertically, softly in a circular pattern. It is recommended to start with little water, rub for a long time, and then test if the black color reaches your satisfaction. If it is not dark enough, add a little more water and rub again.
Continue this process until the desired black color is achieved.
2.
It is then molded in a kashi-gata and left to dry.
Meditative Ritual
The preparation of Sumi ink is a quiet ritual, closely aligned with Zen meditation.
As the Sumi ink is ground on the Suzuri stone, a refined scent fills the air—driven by ryū-noh (borneol) resin—gently calming the mind. The repetitive movement becomes meditation itself: steady, focused, and fully present.
Practiced in Japan for centuries, this preparation process is more than technique—it is a discipline of stillness, presence, and care.
02
Katazome Washi Paper
Coated with Kakishibu
Exquisite antique treasures, they are found in Kyoto, are utilized in Katazome, a stencil dyeing technique employed for Kimono fabrics.
Works of Art
Crafted from Japanese washi paper and carefully hand-cut to create beautiful motifs—often portraying kamons (Japanese family symbols)—these pieces narrate a rich history and evoke the fantastical ambiance of the Edo period.
Kakishibu
Ancient Dyeing Method
Technically, the Katazome washi papers are coated in multiple layers with Kakishibu.
Kakishibu is a traditional Japanese dye made from fermented persimmon juice. Used for centuries, it develops a deep, earthy tone that becomes richer over time.
Beyond its beauty, it also strengthens and protects the materials it colors, embodying a harmony of function and natural elegance.
03
Tsuge Comb
In the Edo period, a comb was more than a grooming tool.
It was part of a woman’s personal world: a keepsake, a symbol of refinement, sometimes even a treasured gift marking coming-of-age or marriage. Because tsuge (boxwood) combs were handmade and slightly different from one another, they carried a sense of individuality—quietly intimate objects shaped for daily ritual.
Discover Japanese Heritage
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