Novel design in 1,000 years of Japanese design heritage

In celebration of the Japan – Vietnam Friendship Year 2013, the Japan Foundation Center for Cultural Exchange in Vietnam, in cooperation with Hanoi University of Industrial Fine Arts, Consulate General of Japan in Ho Chi Minh City and Vietnam Design House, proudly present a series of events entitled “Japan Handmade: Crafts & Design from Kyoto” in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City.

Kyoto, Japan’s former imperial capital, is worldly famous for the abundance of traditional crafts and craftspeople. Equipped with its long history of tradition, craftspeople in Kyoto have been continuously creating high quality products for generations.

In today’s harsh global market, however, high quality per se seems not to be enough to keep regular patrons attracted to your products. Something extra, novel design for instance, is required. Craftspeople in Kyoto, thus, are also struggling to survive and make their best efforts to develop new products in the context of the globalized market.

In this series of events, such efforts by a collective of young craftspeople, all are young heirs of traditional crafts in Kyoto, will be introduced through an exhibition, lectures and a workshop. Their secrets how to apply the time-honored techniques of Japanese art and craft to create inspiring new designs with contemporary international appeal will be revealed.

The exhibition “Japan Handmade: Crafts & Design from Kyoto” will open at 18:00 on Tuesday 23 April at the Japan Foundation Center for Cultural Exchange in Vietnam (27 Quang Trung, Hanoi), followed by a talk by Ms. Pham Thi Kieu Phuc (Founder/Designer of Module 7).

Lectures by Ms. Noriko Kawakami (Journalist / Associate Director of 21_21 Design Sight) & Mr. Masataka Hosoo (Brand Director of Hosoo Co., Ltd.) as well as workshops by Mr. Toru Tsuji (Craftsman of metal knitting) will be conducted on Tuesday 7 May in Hanoi and on Thursday 9 May in Ho Chi Minh City. All activities are free of admission but registrations in advance are highly recommended for lectures and workshops (observers only for workshops).

■ Event Information

Japan Handmade: Crafts & Design from Kyoto

* Registrations in advance are highly recommended for lectures & workshops. Workshops are for invitee only but registrations as observers are welcome.

* For registrations, please contact at:

Ms. Nha (04-3944-7419 ext: 115) / Mr. Yoshioka (0123-384-4138)
The Japan Foundation Center for Cultural Exchange in Vietnam
27 Quang Trung, Hoan Kiem, Hanoi, Vietnam TEL 04-3944-7419

■  Selected companies and their young craftspeople

Hosoo / Mr. Masataka Hosoo (b.1978)
Hosoo is a long-established company founded in 1688, specializing in obi (sash) and kimono. Mr. Masataka Hosoo is 12th generation of the Hosoo helm. 4 years ago, Hosoo started a new business, installing a textile machine with which craftspeople can weave yarn into a fabric in the width of 150cm, far wider than the normal obi width (32cm). They have been actively promoting their new fabrics based on materials and techniques for obi abroad.
http://www.hosoo-kyoto.com/

Kanaami-Tsuji / Mr. Toru Tsuji (b.1981)
Kyo-kanaami (metal knitting of Kyoto) is born in 8th century as kitchen utensils for Kyoto cuisine. After experiencing severe periods that the number of Kyo-kanaami craftspeople drastically decreased, Kanaami-Tsuji was established in 1980. The company has been actively developing new products since then.
http://www.kanaamitsuji.com/en/

Kaikado / Mr. Takahiro Yagi (b.1974)
Kaikado was established in 1875 and has been making chazutsu or tin tea caddies for tea storage, which is inseparable with the history of tea or the tea ceremony in Kyoto. Lately the company has been developing new products for contemporary life such as containers for pasta and coffee.
http://www.kaikado.jp/english/index.html

Nakagawa Mokkougei / Mr. Shuji Nakagawa (b.1968)
Kyo-sashimono is woodworking joints of Kyoto with a long history of 700 years. After honing his skill in a long-established cooper shop in Kyoto, Mr. Shuji Nakagawa’s grandfather established Nakagawa Mokkougei which specializes Kyo-sashimono. The company develops new products such as champagne coolers based on the traditional technique of woodworking joints.
http://www.grass-garden.com/

Kohchosai Kosuga / Mr. Tatsuyuki Kosuga (b.1981)
Kohchosai Kosuga is a long-established studio established in 1898, specializing in handicrafts made with bamboo, which is a familiar material for Japanese since the ancient period. The studio has been actively developing sophisticated products ranging from cutlery to interior goods.
http://www.kohchosai.co.jp/

Asahiyaki / Mr. Yusuke Matsubayashi (b. 1980)
Asahiyaki was established in 1600 as a family pottery specializing in ceramic tea-ceremony vessels which were highly admired by court nobles, feudal loads and masters of the tea ceremony. Mr. Yusuke Matsubayashi is 16th generation of the family pottery. Apart from utensils for the tea ceremony, he recently makes efforts to produce vessels to be used in contemporary life.
http://asahiyaki.com/english/index.html

■ Selected Artworks

Remarks: For the usage of the following images for your media, please contact the staffs in charge above. We will provide a bigger size of each image upon your request.

LAVAL Chair Collaborate with HOSOO	Fabric by HOSOO at Milano Fashion Show
Wine stoppers and corkscrews, Kanaami-Tsuji	Cooking utensils, Kanaami-Tsuji
Flower basket, Kohchosai Kosuga	Tea caddy, Kaikado

■ For inquiries, registrations, interviews for the Japanese experts, please contact at:

Ms. Nha (04-3944-7419 ext: 115) / Mr. Yoshioka (0123-384-4138)
The Japan Foundation Center for Cultural Exchange in Vietnam
27 Quang Trung, Hoan Kiem, Hanoi, Vietnam TEL 04-3944-7419