“Craftsmen in the Jail of Beauty”
Joint Symposium and Exhibition
by SOAS, University of London, & Doshisha University, Kyoto Japan

We are pleased to inform you that we are going to hold a symposium in revlation to the Japanese traditional craftsmanship and exhibition in London based on collaboration with Ichizawa Shinzaburo Hanpu, one of the most popular and the long-established canvas duck bag maker in Japan, and Karacho, the kyo karakami paper maker with a 400-year-old history in Kyoto,. Prior to the symposium and exhibition, we are pleased to invite you to the private viewing on Tuesday, 6th of November from 6:00pm.
SOAS (The School of Oriental and African Studies) of University of London, Doshisha University, the Japanese private university in Kyoto founded in 1875, and Social Common Capital Research Centre of Doshisha University will host the symposium at SOAS on the 9th of November from 1pm, and the exhibition associated with the symposium at Gallery 47, 47 Great Russell Street (in front of the British Museum) from the 6th to the10th of November. The Exhibition is to involve not only a distinctive introduction of the Japanese craftsmanship but also special productions, having never been released in Japan.
Through this project, we would like to play a role to help many Japanese artisans and craftsperson companies reclaim confidence and pride in their works and skills despite all sorts of challenges. Furthermore, starting with London, U.K., we are going to share the fruits of this collaboration with European society, which, we hope, will facilitate deeper understanding toward Japanese culture, as well as inspire people to think about the condition of industrial society (shift from mass production and consumption to high-mix/low-volume production and consumption). People in Japan value a lot to “an original taste” and “subtleness” made possible only in such handiwork and they prefer it to mass production goods; there are the potentials of craftsmanship in Kyoto – “An ancient city that lives in the now”. This kind of approach may give British people some ideas to enhance local economical activities elsewhere in the U.K.
We would like to invite you to our private viewing on the 6th of November, starting from 6pm. You can directly speak to Mr Kenkichi Senda, the 11th Master of Karacho, and Mr Shinzaburo Hanpu, President of Ichisawa Shinzaburo Hanpu while looking at their interesting collaboration at the exhibition. Please get back to us if you are interested in attending at the private viewing as soon as possible and it will be much appreciated.

Exhibition
“Craftsmen in the Jail of Beauty” - Collaboration of Craftsperson Companies in Kyoto: Ichizawa Shinzaburo Hanpu and Karacho
_ Date:
Private Viewing: Tuesday, 6 November, 2007 6:00pm to 8pm
Wednesday, 7 November, 10am-4pm
Thursday, 8 November, 10am-4pm
Friday, 9 November, 10am-8pm
Saturday, 10 November, 10am-1pm
_ Place:
Gallery 47 (in front of the British Museum)
47 Great Russell Street, London. WC1B 3PB

Symposium
"Craft Enterprises: Tradition, Renovation and Creation - Kyoto as Social Common Capital"
_ Date:
Friday, 9 November, 2007 1pm to 6pm
_ Place:
Khalili Lecture Theatre at SOAS, University of London

_ Speakers:
Takashi Nishimura, Vice-President, Doshisha University
Hirofumi Uzawa, Research Centre of Social Common Capital, Doshisha University
Toshio Watanabe, Chelsea College of Art and Design
Shinzaburo Ichizawa, President, Ichizawa Shinzaburo Hanpu
Kenkichi Senda, The 11th Master of Karacho
Website: http://www.craftmanship.org/index.html

Contact Details:
Sabro Takahashi
Exhibition coordinator and translator
Navix Europe London Office
37 Eyre Street Hill
London EC1R 5ET
TEL:+44 (0)7834 328 377
FAX:+44 (0)20 7278 4663

Greeting from Project Producer:
In order to truly grasp the culture of Japan, and of Kyoto in particular, we must ask ourselves, what are the "foundations" on which that culture is built? Essential to those foundations are the many craftspeople who make the tools and implements used in Japanese culture, and the links between those craftspeople. We believe that it is only by clearly acknowledging the craftspeople and their interconnectedness that we can fully understand Japanese culture and Kyoto's culture.
It is this recognition that led to the planning of the joint project between Doshisha University (Kyoto, Japan) and London University's SOAS, and to the organization of this exhibition and the associated symposium at the SOAS.
This exhibition provides an opportunity to see Ichizawa Shinzaburo Hanpu bags, which are hand-made by skilled craftspeople, Karacho's karakami paper, which has been used in Japanese homes for some 400 years, and some new products that have arisen from the fusion of these two traditions.
I hope that you will all come away from this event with some appreciation of the creativity, the originality and the technical skill of the craftspeople who underpin Japanese and Kyoto culture, and of the beauty of what they create.

Project Producer
Takashi Nishimura
Professor, Doshisha University



The Karakami originally came from China in 630Ís. Karacho is the only craft center in Japan creating Karakami in the last 1400 years. There are 650 kinds of blocks at the present day. All of those are excellent in quality because they were selected by the craftsmen. The oldest block ïKage Hinata KuyouÍ was invented in the 1791. We are creating the Karakami using the block. There is the similar pattern of the blocks to the ancient Celtic pattern. We therefore see the interaction between our patterns and European patterns. The collaboration ïKarachoÍ and ÍShinzaburo KabanÍ is one of the greatest opportunity to exhibit the Shinzaburo Kaban decorated with the Karacho pattern. I believe that this is the very significant output.
Kenkichi Senda
The 11th master of Karacho



Karacho is the only business in Japan that still continues to make paper using traditional techniques that have been faithfully handed down through the generations since the company was founded some 400 years ago.
Karakami refers to Japanese paper that is made by applying mica and pigments to a wooden block (onto which a design has been carved) and then pressing paper onto the woodblock. There are now a total of 650 woodblocks that have been lovingly handed down from past generations, and these are still used today to make karakami for use in a wide range of products, including fusuma (traditional sliding doors), wallpaper, folding screens and a host of smaller items.



1624 The 1st master of Karacho opened Karacho. Karacho joined a publishing venture held by Kouetsu Honnami in Geijutsu Mura (The village of Arts).
1788 All of the blocks were destroyed by the conflagration of Tenmei in Kyoto.
1791 The re-creation of the blocks was started.
1872 In the Meiji period, many companies in the same line winded up of their businesses because of the low demands. The 7th master of Karacho also discarded the 250 blocks.
1875 Sir Parks, the director of British consular office in Japan, gathered the ancient documents of Karacho and sent to Britain. The collections are displayed at Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.
1895 The 8th master of Karacho was awarded a silver prize at the 4th Japan Industrial Exhibition.
1960 The 10th master of Karacho joined creating the Karakami of paulownia pattern for Katsurarikyu.
1975 The present master of Karacho has taken over the master position.
1978 The reconstruction of the paulownia pattern at the repair of Katsurarikyu.
2001 The Karakami of Karacho has been used as a wallpaper in the reconstruction of Dejima Dutch Trading Post.
2004 Two captive stores in the central area of Kyoto have been set up.
2006 The Karakami of Karacho has been used as a Fusuma style door and a wallpaper of Kyoto guest palace.

Contact

Karacho Kobo
36-9 Shugakuin mizukawaracho, Sakyou-ku,
Kyoto, 606-8027, Japan
Tel 075-721-4422
Fax 075-721-4430
E-mail contact@karacho.co.jp




With "Made in Kyoto, sold in Kyoto" as our motto, we manufacture and sell original bags made using cotton and hemp duck canvas. Because our first bags were made to hold the tools used by craftspeople, they are sturdy, long lasting and a joy to use. Over many years of use, the cloth softens and becomes like an old familiar friend. We will repair any damage at cost price only. As far as humanly possible, our craftspeople take full responsibility for their work.



Around 1905 Ichizawa Hanpu workshop is established by Kihei Ichizawa, the founding generation of the Ichizawa family. Kihei Ichizawa was a fashionable man-about-town who opened Kyoto's first western-style dry cleaning business in 1877 and formed one of Kyoto's first brass bands. Around the same time, he used his sewing machine to start up a sewing business.
Around 1920 The second generation of the family, Tsunejiro Ichizawa focuses the business on making tool bags for craftspeople.
1930 Tsunejiro brings in the first large commercial Singer machines.
1940 The company manufactures the bags for parachutes and covers for weapons.
1945 The third generation of the family, Nobuo Ichizawa, returns from the war and goes back to making bags. Around
1955 onwards There is a boom in mountain climbing and universities establish mountain-climbing and exploring clubs. The company begins a brisk trade making tents and rucksacks. The popularity of Ichizawa Hanpu tents and rucksacks grows.
Around 1970 onwards Japan Rail's "Discover Japan" campaign triggers a travel boom and duck canvas bags become popular among the general public.
1980 Shinzaburo Ichizawa joins the company.
1983 Shinzaburo Ichizawa becomes President of Ichizawa Hanpu (the fourth generation of the Ichizawa family).
April 2006 Together with the entire staff of craftspeople, Shinzaburo Ichizawa establishes Ichizawa Shinzaburo Hanpu. Today, some 70 craftspeople and 15 sales staff are engaged in making and selling Shinzaburo bags.
Contact Information
Store:
Higashioji Furumonzen Agaru Bldg East, Higashiyama-ku,
Kyoto, Japan 605-0067
Tel: 075-541-0436
Fax.: 075-541-0437



Thank you for visiting the Joint Symposium Press Room. Press materials for upcoming exhibitions are not available yet. Please contact the following person for PR and Media related matters.

Sabro Takahashi, Navix Europe (London)
TEL: +44 (0)7834 328 377
FAX: +44 (0)20 7278 4663
Email: press@craftmanship.org