Dento Traditional Crafts Program Winners Announced

Nishimura Keikō Lacquer Studio

Prize Winner’s Self-Introductory Statement　

“Our Workshop has been in operation for three generations in Kyoto city. His studio produces a variety of lacquerware, focusing on the consistent production of wooden tea ceremony utensils, such as tea caddies and bowls.

“In the past, Kyoto was home to many craftsmen with highly advanced skills that were subdivided into specialized divisions of labor, but unfortunately, these skills are now on the verge of disappearing. In order to preserve the advanced Kyoto techniques that I have inherited, our workshop has succeeded in training artisans who make the most important structure of lacquerware, the base wood. We are also training apprentices to pass on the family business skills, which have been passed down from generation to generation.  These top-notch techniques have become the standard skills of our workshop, and by responding to a wide variety of needs and the trends of the times, the scope of our work is expanding even further.  We are currently preparing for a solo exhibition in Europe in 2026. Our workshop’s mission is to bring lacquer, an ultra-sustainable material that has been around since the Jomon period (14,000–1000 BC), to the world.”

— Keiko Nishimura

Comments from the Judging Committee

Kyoto‘s lacquerware crafts, which have developed through the division of labor, are now facing a situation in which the existing production system cannot be maintained due to a shortage of workers for each of the different jobs. Under these circumstances, the Nishimura Keikou Lacquer Workshop has been actively engaged in training craftsmen to carry on the family business of lacquering, as well as the preliminary process of rokuro (a wood-working process), for several years. This selection was made in recognition of this achievement and to support such apprenticeship training activities in the future.

Arisugawa Orimono Co., Ltd

Prize Winner’s Self-Introductory Statement

“N’s 1182/Arisugawa Textiles is mainly engaged in the manufacture of Nishijin-ori (Nishijin weave) fabrics and apparel brands that use only traditional crafts and Nishijin-ori. In order to create a maison, we are working secure craftspeople, inherit their skills, and develop products with a high level of design.

“In Kyoto, products are carefully crafted piece by piece using traditional methods. However, the modern trend of mass production and consumption has made it a challenge in every aspect. In the face of this problem, we pursue the value of the real thing, not the copy. We incorporate the mass production of the “real thing” into our designs and processes, rather than the mass production of replicas. We also aim to create original clothing with a high degree of perfection based on creative business concepts by rethinking new manufacturing and sales methods. This attitude is the brand’s concept as an antithesis to mass production and consumption.”

— Yusuke Maeda

Comments from the Judging Committee

N’s 1182 is an apparel brand by Nishijin textile company Arisugawa Orimono Co., Ltd., that offers a wide variety of fashion items in small quantities, utilizing the techniques and craftsmanship unique to Nishijin weaving. Taking advantage of the 31cm width of the obi, which can be considered a handicap when making Western clothing, the brand has produced original items that make use of the high level of technique unique to traditional crafts. There have been many attempts to repurpose materials and techniques from traditional Japanese crafts into Western products, but this attempt to propose and brand new world-class fashion using traditional crafts itself was highly evaluated and resulted in this award.

KORI ANRI JAPAN 

Prize Winner’s Self-Introductory Statement

“Toyooka kiryu-zaiku, a traditional handicraft in northern Hyogo Prefecture, is represented by the willow wickerwork, which has existed for more than 1,300 years.

“Based in Toyooka City, Hyogo Prefecture, the company operates on a foundation of genuine handcraft, handling every step of the process from cultivating the willow wood used as the raw material to processing and manufacturing. In addition to classic willow wicker, the company has has also produced never-before-seen works such as wall art, lampshades and redesigned travel bags.

“Our policy is to express works that do not fit into the conventional framework of Toyooka kiryu-zaiku, to go beyond the traditional bounds of stereotype, in order to explore the potential of this industry.

“We hope that our creations will become a deep and lasting part of people’s daily lives. With this in mind, we can honor tradition while also delivering new appeal and unprecedented expression to a wide range of generations, both in Japan and overseas.”

— Kanal Kato

Comments from the Judging Committee

Toyooka kiryu-zaiku has a long history, but until now its materials and techniques have rarely been used for anything other than willow wicker baskets and travel bags. KORI ANRI  has focused on this point and is working to develop new, more modern products. For this application, the team proposed to further develop the lamp that they had been prototyping about a year ago, into a more complete product. Since the techniques of Toyooka Kiriyaku crafts are in danger of being passed down with products mired in the current method of development, DENTO decided to support this challenge to explore new possibilities for this traditional craft.