Living traditions
Tokyo is a place where heritage and innovation coexist in perfect harmony. Throughout the city, generations of craftspeople have honed their skills.
The Edo Tokyo Kirari Project celebrates these enduring legacies as the true “treasures of Tokyo”, spotlighting their artistry and vision on the world stage. Here we present four companies that embody the concept of “old meets new”, marrying meticulous craftsmanship and timeless aesthetics with innovative sensibilities that resonate across cultures and lifestyles.
1.
White Rose
Umbrellas
Established in 1721 as a tobacco merchant, White Rose is no stranger to evolution – pivoting over the years to rainwear, before making its mark with the world’s first plastic umbrella in 1958. Since that time, it has been called upon to meet a range of special requests.
“We’ve made umbrellas for the Japanese royal family, umbrellas for monks to use when chanting sutras and umbrellas for mountaineers needing to withstand wild winds,” says the company’s 10th-generation head, Tsukasa Sudo. “They all had their own preferences for size and function but what they shared was the need for a transparent, durable umbrella.”
White Rose takes pride in producing about 10,000 premium plastic umbrellas per year. Its considered approach extends all the way to the hand-sewn tips and charming wooden handles, while each part is designed to be repaired. “Our umbrellas aren’t fashionable or colourful,” adds Sudo. “They’re made for durability, safety and security. The most important thing is that they protect our customers.”
Established: 1721
Products: Plastic umbrellas
whiterose.jp
2.
Takahashi Kobo
Woodblock prints
In the Edo period, ukiyo-e prints were intertwined with popular culture, depicting landmarks, fashion trends and events, as seen through the eyes of artists such as Katsushika Hokusai and Utagawa Hiroshige. This kind of woodblock printing lives on in the Bunkyo neighbourhood of Suido, where Takahashi Kobo has been using the same techniques for more than 160 years. The print workshop’s origins lie with surishi artisans, who were tasked with adjusting and printing the final image. The company uses traditional pigments, horse-hair brushes and high-quality Echizen-kizu-Kihosyoshi paper, while also collaborating with contemporary artists to create innovative designs.
Led by sixth-generation head Yukiko Takahashi since 2009, the workshop makes work based on contemporary themes as well as reproducing classic prints, including “The Great Wave Off Kanagawa” and others from Hokusai’s Thirty-Six Views of Mount Fuji series. “‘The Great Wave’ requires fewer than 10 colours but what makes it so wonderful is the composition – that’s why it’s world-famous,” says Takahashi. The workshop’s commitment to preserving Edo woodblock printing techniques results in authentic works. “For surishi, the most important task is recreating the original as closely as possible.”
Established: 1855
Products: Woodblock prints
takahashi-kobo.com
3.
Maekawa Inden
Leather goods
Originally used to decorate armour, the leather craft of inden dates back more than four centuries. The technique of adorning deerskin with lacquer patterns became part of daily life during the Edo period, when it was used on bags and accessories. But inden artisans had almost disappeared from Tokyo by the early 21st century, when Norio Maekawa launched Maekawa Inden in 2004. At the time, the inden style was largely viewed as something that only the older generation would wear. “That only motivated me to do things differently,” says Maekawa.
Challenging the dark aesthetic associated with the craft, he began making bold patchwork pieces using leather offcuts. These proved successful and have since become central to the brand’s line-up of purses, wallets and bags. Every one-of-a-kind piece features an assembly of traditional patterns layered with meaning – from tortoiseshell for longevity to cherry blossoms for an abundant harvest – alongside contemporary additions.
Established: 2004
Products: Handmade leather pieces including purses
maekawa-inden.co.jp
4.
Ryukobo
‘Kumihimo’
“Kumihimo [braided cords] must have both function and beauty,” says Takashi Fukuda, head of Ryukobo. “Without these qualities, I don’t think that they can survive in today’s world.” Seated on the floor at the company’s headquarters in Nihonbashi, the 65-year-old master craftsman is joined by his son Ryuta, the latest in a line of kumihimo artisans dating back to 1889. “While the craft has changed [over its 1,400-year history], I believe that it can live on through the creation of the most cutting-edge, alluring works,” says Ryuta.
Ryukobo’s Tokyo workshop is involved in every stage of kumihimo production. Its sash cords are popular with many people, including tea ceremony practitioners and members of the Imperial family. This inspired its bracelet collection, which combines the wisteria-inspired Fuji-yotsugumi and other traditional braids with stainless materials. Carefully crafted by Ryukobo’s 50-strong team, each is made with a deep respect for the knowledge passed down from one generation to the next. “There are so many stories behind each expression,” adds Ryuta. “I want to convey Japanese craftsmanship and attention to detail.”
Established: 1889
Product: Traditional Japanese braids and cords
ryukobo.jp
