Producers from six artisan regions in the Tokai area and international creators
Shaping a new vision for Japanese traditional crafts
Craft x Tech is a new initiative founded by designer Hideki Yoshimoto (Tangent) and led by Maria Cristina Didero as Curatorial Director, aimed at bridging Japanese traditional crafts with modern ideas and technologies. As part of the second edition ‘Craft x Tech Tokai Project’ announced in October last year, we are pleased to unveil the participating traditional craft producers from six artisan regions across three prefectures in the Tokai area. Additionally, we are announcing the six collaborative pairs between these craft producers and international creators.
The Tokai region, known for its rich natural resources such as high-quality clay and pristine streams, has flourished as a hub of craftsmanship and commerce due to its historical role as a key junction along the Tokaido and Nakasendo routes. ‘Craft x Tech Tokai Project’ brings together producers from six artisan regions: Mino Yaki (Gifu) Fudogama, Mino Washi (Gifu) Warabi Paper Company, Arimatsu Narumi Shibori (Aichi) Suzusan, Owari Shippo (Aichi) Ando Cloisonne, Seto Sometsuke Yaki (Aichi) Shingama, and Iga Kumihimo (Mie) Itogo.
Each of these artisans will collaborate with one of six internationally acclaimed creators: David Caon, Lanzavecchia + Wai, Bethan Laura Wood, Philippe Malouin, Eugene Kangawa (EUGENE STUDIO), and Atang Tshikare. Together, they will explore new creative possibilities, resulting in innovative art pieces that aim to redefine the future of traditional crafts.
The creation process will commence in early summer, with the creators visiting the artisan regions, engaging in dialogue with the craftspeople, and inspiring one another to shape a new vision for traditional craftsmanship.
[Collaboration Pairs]
Mino Yaki, Gifu Prefecture
Yohei Ito, Fudogama x David Caon, Industrial Designer
Mino Washi, Gifu Prefecture
Takanori Senda, Warabi Paper Company x Lanzavecchia + Wai, Design Studio
Arimatsu Narumi Shibori, Aichi Prefecture
Hiroyuki Murase, Suzusan x Bethan Laura Wood, Designer
Owari Shippo, Aichi Prefecture
Shigeyuki Ando, Ando Cloisonne x Philippe Malouin, Designer
Seto Sometsuke Yaki, Aichi Prefecture
Mayuki Kato, Shingama x Eugene Kangawa (EUGENE STUDIO), Artist
Iga Kumihimo, Mie Prefecture
Tomoyuki Matsuda, Itogo x Atang Tshikare, Designer
[Six Artisan Regions from Tokai Area]
Mino Yaki, Gifu Prefecture: Yohei Ito, Fudogama
The third-generation head of Fudogama kiln. After graduating from Aichi Prefectural Ceramics Technical Training School, he joined the family business in 2006. Mino Yaki ceramic ware, a traditional craft designated by the Minister of Economy, Trade, and Industry, boasts a history of over 1,300 years. Embodying the spirit of “Hyouge Mono” — a sense of aesthetic rebellion and creative freedom — rooted in the cultural flourishing and artistic experimentation of the Momoyama period, Fudogama upholds and revitalizes the traditions of Mino Yaki while creating products that seamlessly fit into modern lifestyles.
fudogama.com
Mino Washi, Gifu Prefecture: Takanori Senda, Warabi Paper Company
Born in 1983 in Gifu Prefecture. Inspired by his time living among indigenous communities in the Amazon and Andes of Peru, he developed a deep resonance with a way of life in harmony with nature. In 2011, he apprenticed under Tatsuo Ichihara, inheriting the 1,300-year-old tradition of handmade Mino Washi paper-making before establishing his own practice. As the founder of Warabi Paper Company, he cultivates raw materials and crafts traditional washi paper by hand, pushing the boundaries of conventional handmade washi paper to create innovative paper works for hotels, retail spaces, designers, and brands.
warabipapercompany.com
Arimatsu Narumi Shibori, Aichi Prefecture: Hiroyuki Murase, Suzusan
CEO of Suzusan Co., Ltd. and Creative Director of suzusan. Fifth-generation heir of a family specializing in Arimatsu Narumi Shibori. After studying art at the University for the Creative Arts in Farnham, Surrey, and Kunstakademie Düsseldorf, he founded his company in Germany in 2008 and launched the brand “suzusan.” In 2009, he expanded into lighting and home collections, and in 2015 into fashion. Having served as the coordinating curator for “Creation as DIALOGUE,” an initiative by Nagoya City, he is actively engaged in efforts to sustain and revitalize Japan’s traditional crafts.
suzusan-shibori.com
Owari Shippo, Aichi Prefecture: Shigeyuki Ando, Ando Cloisonne
Born in 1972 in Nagoya City as the eldest son of the Ando family, which has managed Ando Cloisonne Co., Ltd., a long-established company founded in 1880. He is currently the fifth-generation president and also serves as the chairman of the Owari Shippo Cooperative Association, holding key roles in local traditional craft organizations. Amid the declining demand for Owari Shippo and the looming threat of losing its production techniques, he prioritizes in-house manufacturing and the training of next-generation artisans. Additionally, he actively engages in product development and planning to meet modern and contemporary needs.
www.ando-shippo.co.jp
Seto Sometsuke Yaki, Aichi Prefecture: Mayuki Kato, Shingama
The fourth-generation head of Shingama, a kiln specializing in Seto Sometsuke Yaki. Born in 1981 in Seto City, Aichi Prefecture, as the eldest daughter in the family. After studying ceramic design at the Tajimi City Pottery Design and Technical Center, she joined the family business. In 2021, she was officially certified as a Traditional Crafts Artisan of Seto Sometsuke Yaki. Actively presenting works and conducting workshops both in Japan and internationally, she preserves the traditional techniques of Seto Sometsuke Yaki while exploring contemporary designs and new expressions of “sometsuke,” integrating them into modern lifestyles.
singama.jp
Iga Kumihimo, Mie Prefecture: Tomoyuki Matsuda, Itogo
Mie Prefecture Kumihimo Cooperative Vice Chairman and 4th-generation CEO of Itogo. Founded in 1954, Itogo specializes in machine-braided Iga Kumihimo, traditional Japanese braided cords, one of Japan’s nationally designated traditional craft products. While traditionally used for kimono obijime (sashes), over the past decade, Itogo has expanded its applications into new fields, including products such as face masks, shoelaces, anime-related merchandise, architectural and construction materials, medal cords used in international competitions, and souvenirs for global events like the G7 Summit.
www.itogo.co.jp
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