{"id":7074,"date":"2026-03-15T23:39:51","date_gmt":"2026-03-15T14:39:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/en.kogei-japonica.com\/media\/?p=7074"},"modified":"2026-03-15T23:39:51","modified_gmt":"2026-03-15T14:39:51","slug":"rekisaikan","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/en.kogei-japonica.com\/media\/recommended\/rekisaikan\/","title":{"rendered":"Kyoto Craft Materials: Urushi and Natural Dye Talk"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Japan&#8217;s aesthetic tradition is carried not only by the hands of artisans, but by the materials those hands reach for. On March 29, 2026, Kyoto Rekisaikan (the Kyoto Prefectural Library and Archives) will host a public lecture event: <strong>&#8220;Opening Up Materials \u2014 A World of Traditional Craft Woven from Lacquer and Dye.&#8221;<\/strong> The talk puts craft materials at the center, featuring the heads of two long-established Kyoto material suppliers. Below, the Kogei Japonica editorial team outlines what to expect.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>A new lens on craft: the material suppliers<\/strong><br \/>\nThe heads of two Kyoto dye and lacquer houses \u2014 rarely in the public eye \u2014 share their practical knowledge and the realities of the workshop floor.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Craft materials and sustainability<\/strong><br \/>\nThe conversation spans urushi, a natural material with a history going back roughly 10,000 years, and the next-generation efforts \u2014 including lacquer tree planting initiatives \u2014 being made to carry it forward.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Kimono discount for attendees<\/strong><br \/>\nThe event takes place on Sunday, March 29, 2026, at Kyoto Rekisaikan. Guests who arrive in kimono receive a \u00a5100 discount on the \u00a5500 admission fee.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_73 ez-toc-wrap-center counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-white ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/en.kogei-japonica.com\/media\/recommended\/rekisaikan\/#Why_Craft_Materials_Are_Worth_a_Closer_Look\" title=\"Why Craft Materials Are Worth a Closer Look\">Why Craft Materials Are Worth a Closer Look<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/en.kogei-japonica.com\/media\/recommended\/rekisaikan\/#Two_Long-Established_Suppliers_Two_Deep_Material_Traditions\" title=\"Two Long-Established Suppliers, Two Deep Material Traditions\">Two Long-Established Suppliers, Two Deep Material Traditions<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/en.kogei-japonica.com\/media\/recommended\/rekisaikan\/#Tanaka_Nao_and_Natural_Dye_%E2%80%94_Founded_1733\" title=\"Tanaka Nao and Natural Dye \u2014 Founded 1733\">Tanaka Nao and Natural Dye \u2014 Founded 1733<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/en.kogei-japonica.com\/media\/recommended\/rekisaikan\/#Tsutsumi_Urushi_and_Japanese_Lacquer_%E2%80%94_Established_1909\" title=\"Tsutsumi Urushi and Japanese Lacquer \u2014 Established 1909\">Tsutsumi Urushi and Japanese Lacquer \u2014 Established 1909<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/en.kogei-japonica.com\/media\/recommended\/rekisaikan\/#What_the_Talk_Will_Cover_The_View_From_the_Supply_Side\" title=\"What the Talk Will Cover: The View From the Supply Side\">What the Talk Will Cover: The View From the Supply Side<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/en.kogei-japonica.com\/media\/recommended\/rekisaikan\/#Event_Details_and_How_to_Register\" title=\"Event Details and How to Register\">Event Details and How to Register<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7\" href=\"https:\/\/en.kogei-japonica.com\/media\/recommended\/rekisaikan\/#Date_Venue_and_Access\" title=\"Date, Venue, and Access\">Date, Venue, and Access<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-8\" href=\"https:\/\/en.kogei-japonica.com\/media\/recommended\/rekisaikan\/#Registration_and_Kimono_Discount\" title=\"Registration and Kimono Discount\">Registration and Kimono Discount<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-9\" href=\"https:\/\/en.kogei-japonica.com\/media\/recommended\/rekisaikan\/#From_the_Editors\" title=\"From the Editors\">From the Editors<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Why_Craft_Materials_Are_Worth_a_Closer_Look\"><\/span>Why Craft Materials Are Worth a Closer Look<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>When people think of Kyoto&#8217;s traditional crafts, the finished works tend to come to mind first \u2014 Nishijin textiles, Kyoto lacquerware, and the like. But the beauty of those objects does not rest on the artisan&#8217;s skill alone. It depends equally on the people who supply the materials that make that skill possible.<\/p>\n<p>Kyoto has long been a place where makers of all kinds converge: professional craftspeople, independent artists, and students learning their trades. Underpinning that ecosystem are the material suppliers \u2014 businesses that have kept quality raw materials in steady supply across generations. Looking at craft through the lens of its materials, rather than its finished forms, brings into focus a set of knowledge and practical ingenuity that rarely makes it into public view.<\/p>\n<p>This lecture offers exactly that vantage point: a chance to understand craft through the perspective of the specialists who support it at the level of materials.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Two_Long-Established_Suppliers_Two_Deep_Material_Traditions\"><\/span>Two Long-Established Suppliers, Two Deep Material Traditions<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>The event brings together the heads of two Kyoto material houses, each working with a distinct traditional material. Both will speak about their histories and the current state of their respective fields.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Tanaka_Nao_and_Natural_Dye_%E2%80%94_Founded_1733\"><\/span>Tanaka Nao and Natural Dye \u2014 Founded 1733<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><figure id=\"attachment_9684\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-9684\" style=\"width: 1024px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/kogei-japonica.com\/media\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/164de753dece0cea28ca2c5b67dbdb5d-1024x452-1.webp\" alt=\"Tanaka Nao, a Kyoto natural dye specialist founded in 1733\" width=\"1024\" height=\"452\" class=\"size-full wp-image-9684\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-9684\" class=\"wp-caption-text\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.tanaka-nao.co.jp\/\" rel=\"noopener nofollow \" target=\"_blank\">Tanaka Nao Co., Ltd.<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>The first speaker is Takasuke Tanaka, the tenth-generation head of Tanaka Nao, a dye materials specialist that has operated in Shimogyo Ward, Kyoto, since 1733. Natural dyes remain one of the company&#8217;s core offerings, as they have been since its founding.<\/p>\n<p>Kusaki-zome \u2014 botanical dyeing using plant-based sources \u2014 is far more than a method for adding color to fiber. It is a coherent system of knowledge rooted in the properties of plant materials. Takasuke Tanaka has been active in bringing these traditional practices into dialogue with contemporary culture and everyday life, and this lecture is an opportunity to hear directly about that work.<\/p>\n<p><iframe width=\"560\" height=\"315\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/kj8Povua0JI?si=9aE64KtnznVYzenq\" title=\"YouTube video player\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Tsutsumi_Urushi_and_Japanese_Lacquer_%E2%80%94_Established_1909\"><\/span>Tsutsumi Urushi and Japanese Lacquer \u2014 Established 1909<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><figure id=\"attachment_9683\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-9683\" style=\"width: 1024px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/kogei-japonica.com\/media\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/6d4e77c53b05338471850b3c9db43afc-1024x452-1.webp\" alt=\"Tsutsumi Urushi, a Kyoto lacquer supplier established in 1909\" width=\"1024\" height=\"452\" class=\"size-full wp-image-9683\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-9683\" class=\"wp-caption-text\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.tsutsumi-urushi.com\/en\/\" rel=\"noopener nofollow \" target=\"_blank\">Tsutsumi Urushi Co., Ltd.<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>The second speaker is Takuya Tsutsumi, the fourth-generation head of Tsutsumi Urushi, a lacquer supplier founded in 1909. The company handles the full processing chain in-house: sourcing raw lacquer sap, refining ki-urushi (unprocessed lacquer), and preparing lacquer for specific uses.<\/p>\n<p>Urushi \u2014 Japan&#8217;s native lacquer, derived from the sap of the urushi tree \u2014 has a history of use going back roughly 10,000 years. It is a natural material of exceptional durability, and one that is drawing renewed interest for its sustainability profile. Takuya Tsutsumi approaches urushi not only as a traditional craft material but as something with applications well beyond its conventional contexts. He has also been involved in efforts to expand the cultivation of urushi trees, working toward a more stable domestic supply.<\/p>\n<p><iframe width=\"560\" height=\"315\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/TezR-lovSFM?si=DBPMcGIhiEJSuBjw\" title=\"YouTube video player\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_the_Talk_Will_Cover_The_View_From_the_Supply_Side\"><\/span>What the Talk Will Cover: The View From the Supply Side<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>What makes this lecture distinct is its perspective. The speakers are not artists or makers in the conventional sense \u2014 they are the people who keep makers supplied. That position gives them a particular view of the craft world and the practical adjustments that often go unnoticed in the finished work.<\/p>\n<p>The conversation will address how material suppliers respond to shifting demand and changes in natural material yields while maintaining consistent quality. It will also cover the ongoing dialogue between suppliers and the craftspeople they serve, and how material needs are identified and met. For anyone with a serious interest in how craft actually functions in practice, the supplier&#8217;s perspective is one that rarely gets this kind of direct attention.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Event_Details_and_How_to_Register\"><\/span>Event Details and How to Register<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>The event is ticketed and operates on a first-come, first-served basis. Registration closes the day before the event, so early sign-up is recommended.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Date_Venue_and_Access\"><\/span>Date, Venue, and Access<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Date and Time:<\/strong> Sunday, March 29, 2026, 2:00\u20133:30 PM (doors open at 1:00 PM)<\/li>\n<li><strong>Venue:<\/strong> Kyoto Rekisaikan (Kyoto Prefectural Library and Archives), Main Hall<\/li>\n<li><strong>Access:<\/strong> Approximately 4 minutes&#8217; walk south of Kitayama Station on the Kyoto Municipal Subway, or approximately 5 minutes&#8217; walk north of the &#8220;Prefectural University (Kitaoji-dori)&#8221; stop on the Kyoto City Bus<\/li>\n<li><strong>Parking:<\/strong> Coin parking is available on site<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Registration_and_Kimono_Discount\"><\/span>Registration and Kimono Discount<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Capacity:<\/strong> 480 seats (advance registration required, first-come, first-served)<\/li>\n<li><strong>Admission:<\/strong> \u00a5500, payable on the day by cash or PayPay<\/li>\n<li><strong>Kimono discount:<\/strong> Guests who arrive in kimono receive \u00a5100 off the admission fee<\/li>\n<li><strong>Registration deadline:<\/strong> Saturday, March 28, 2026, at 5:00 PM (or when capacity is reached)<\/li>\n<li><strong>How to register:<\/strong> Via the online registration form on the Kyoto Rekisaikan event page, or by phone at 075-723-4831 (available 9:00 AM\u20135:00 PM)<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/rekisaikan.jp\/news\/post-news\/post-20356\/\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\" target=\"_blank\"><u>Kyoto Rekisaikan Event Page<\/u><\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"From_the_Editors\"><\/span>From the Editors<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Looking beyond the finished object to the materials behind it opens up another way of understanding craft. This lecture offers a chance to hear directly from two people whose work supports that process.<\/p>\n<p>Whether you are a craft enthusiast, a designer with an interest in traditional materials, or simply curious about how Japan&#8217;s material culture is sustained, this talk should be well worth your time. Late March in Kyoto is also a pleasant season to visit. The Kogei Japonica editorial team will be following the session closely.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Japan&#8217;s aesthetic tradition is carried not only by the hands of artisans, but by the materials those hands reach for. On March 29, 2026, Kyoto Rekisaikan (the Kyoto Prefectural Library and Archives) will host a public lecture event: &#8220;Opening Up Materials \u2014 A World of Traditional Craft Woven from Lacquer and Dye.&#8221; The talk puts<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":7076,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[171,281],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-7074","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-recommended","category-events"],"acf":[],"aioseo_notices":[],"amp_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/en.kogei-japonica.com\/media\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7074","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/en.kogei-japonica.com\/media\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/en.kogei-japonica.com\/media\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/en.kogei-japonica.com\/media\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/en.kogei-japonica.com\/media\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=7074"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/en.kogei-japonica.com\/media\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7074\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/en.kogei-japonica.com\/media\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/7076"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/en.kogei-japonica.com\/media\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=7074"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/en.kogei-japonica.com\/media\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=7074"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/en.kogei-japonica.com\/media\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=7074"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}