Introduction of artisans: Menu ----------------------------- Introduction ----------------------------- Introduction "Clothing" Kyo yuzen silk dyeing / Masahiro Ikeuchi Nishijin textile / Takahisa Tamura Kyo yuzen silk dyeing / Ryotaro Hika Kyo Yuzen silk dyeing / Tomoko Fujii Flower arrangement / Michihisa Watanabe ----------------------------- Introduction "Eating and Drinking" Japanese dishes / Takeshi Shinmura Rice / Takashi Hashimoto Sake / Yoshihiro Higashino ----------------------------- Introduction "Living" Synthetic resin / Shigemi Inari Kiyomizu-ware / Hirokazu Kato Woodblock printing / Yuko Harada Jidaigire / Taro Matsumura Folding fans / Takahito Mizukami

I design, produce and market to kimono shops nationwide, primarily stencil-dyed yuzen products, including kimono and obi (broad sash). To produce kimono, I select white silk fabrics, stencils and color combinations. In producing obi, in addition to stencil-dyed yuzen, I also produce hand-painted items. In that case, we prepare designs in-house.

To market our products we hold exhibitions, sometimes by ourselves, other times with other manufacturers. Still other times, we hold exhibitions of our products at retail shops. On all such occasions we try to hold deep and friendly communication with our customers. We also opened a small shop five years ago. At this shop, together with our products, we always provide leaflets explaining the product designs and production methods, so as to deepen customer understanding regarding our articles. We also sell products by independent artists and products we procure from wholesalers of handmade items. The most popular items at our shop are stencil-dyed cotton towels. Our cotton towels have by far a greater variety of designs than those sold at any other souvenir shop. Seeing colorful towels of diverse designs at our shop front, many shoppers drop into our store, which retains the atmosphere of Kyoto's traditional houses. Unlike souvenir shops at airports or tourists destinations, we never sell mass-produced items. We hope that our customers enjoy viewing handmade products in a home-like, relaxing atmosphere. Fortunately, customers who have enjoyed shopping at our store tell their friends, and by word of mouth we have increasing numbers of customers.

Upon graduating from university, I joined an industrial machine-manufacturing firm in Kyoto. During the decade of my service at that company as a member of the overseas marketing department, I worked in Southeast Asian countries, India and Pakistan. In those countries, I truly realized that all people in the world share the same humanity, despite differences in cultures, lifestyles, languages and so forth. At the same time, I also learned that people in other Asian countries are extremely proud of their national or ethnic histories, traditions and cultures. Although I was born to a family engaged in the business of kimono, a Japanese traditional ethnic costume, regrettably I was not able to explain kimono to overseas people. It was really embarrassing that I had so little knowledge about my own cultural background.
After pondering my future career and my family business, I decided to enter the kimono business that my father had been committed to. However, rather than simply following my father's way of business, I wanted to develop my own business lines, so I began studying about kimono, since I believe that precise knowledge of kimono is essential for developing my original business lines.

In producing kimono and obi, I always develop designs painstakingly, continuing to ponder until I develop a design that truly satisfies me. Since I am not engaged in mass-production, I must design and produce each item with all my might. Otherwise, my products can never impress my customers. For instance, if I select dye colors that are not bad, the finished products will have colors that are not bad, but not good enough.

Regarding relations with customers, rather than selling my products, I make efforts to gain customers' understanding of my approach to my profession. I believe that contemporary customers do not simply seek high-quality items, but desire to share the exciting experiences of creating something with us producers. To share such experiences with customers, I try to convey to them creative processes, insofar as possible.

I was born in Kyoto in 1970. During my high school and college days, I spent most of my time practicing rugby. Immediately after graduating from university, I joined an industrial machine-manufacturing firm in Kyoto. During the decade of my service at that company, I was marketing the company's products in about 20 countries, including India, Pakistan and Southeast Asian countries, where I experienced the diverse cultures and diverse lifestyles of local people. After assuming my father's business, I began designing and producing stencil-dyed kimono and hand-painted obi. I am also developing a new business using stencils.
Upon entering junior high school, I joined a rugby club and continued the sport until two years ago. I believe that I have developed my character through the rigorous training of rugby. I am proud of having continued the training, as well as having fostered exceptional friendships with my teammates. I must confess, however, that I did not study hard during my student days. During my junior high school days, there was a boom of designer and character brands in Japan. When I was a senior high school student, many select shops opened that dealt in imported casual clothing. Influenced by my friends, I became interested in apparel fashions. I believe during my teenage days, I developed my ability to recognize high-quality items and good designs, regardless of brand names.

In my former career I was responsible for the Pakistani market for five years. I marketed industrial machines to cotton spinning mills in Pakistan. At that time, I had the pleasure of working with a businessperson selling cotton yarns produced in those mills to Japan and other countries. Until then, I had worked alone in all the countries I was assigned to, so it was the first time for me to learn from someone about business approaches and ways of customer communication. During my service in Pakistan, that fellow quit the leading trading company that he had served for a long time and became independent. His becoming independent is one element that inspired me to run my own business by assuming my father's business.

The journal Kimono Salon once arranged a program in which we had an opportunity to tailor a dyed obi for Ms. Rina Fukazawa (a former announcer of Fuji Television). Her request was to produce a dyed obi of chocolate motif that would suit her dark brown pongee kimono. Her request was so abstract; she only said that she wanted a motif of chocolate for mature women. I suggested various motifs, including those of chocolate bars, but they all failed to meet her expectations. Finally I thought of a design featuring chocolate truffles arranged in a ceramic container of European arabesque design. Ms. Fukazawa was very satisfied with this design and the finished obi, which was indeed even better than I had expected. Through this experience, I learned that deep consideration can result in superb designs.

In addition to the kimono business, I am thinking about developing a new business by exploiting various heritages of Kyoto's traditional industries: design skills, technologies, materials and tools, such as stencils. Together with the manufacturers of diverse products, I hope to develop and design various items featuring such assets of Kyoto-based industries.
Regarding the kimono business, I believe that face-to-face customer communication will be increasingly essential. In a sense, customers of the luxurious and elegant kimono that we are producing comprise enthusiastic kimono fans. We must sharpen our own sensitivity and develop even more sophisticated designs that can satisfy such kimono fans, who will become increasingly specific about their taste.
At the same time, we must also create new demands and new markets for kimono. Rather than offering affordable and easy-to-wear kimono to the young generation, I will recommend to young customers authentic kimono that will truly enrich their lives.
I am also considering use of kimono fabric for sofa covering. Since kimono cloth is only 30 cm wide, to use it for sofa covering we must sew pieces together. It is, however, difficult to align motifs at the seams, since in kimono aligning motifs is not essential. I am considering the use of ebamon, a type of kimono cloth that has aligned design, and to expand this business in overseas markets. Since my own ability is limited, to pioneer such a new business I hope to establish a company by gathering members who share a business vision with me. I hope to combine the efforts of colleagues, as I used to do when I was working for a company.