Disseminate informatin to the world! Rediscover the charm of Japan ! Magazine and web for local revitalization.

Craftsmen who succeed the Japanese crafts skills

The rat-a-tat sound of knocking on wood, the fluid motion of quickly spreading glue on paper, earnest eyes grinding stones with a chisel, the assured fingertips that fix a thong quietly. Craftsmen in Asakusa succeed the wisdom and skills of their predecessors. Hidden ingenuity and their careful handwork create products that are as accurate as machine-made ones. But have the depth and flavor of a thorough mans hand.

Bunsen Do

“Sensu (folding fan) is made from several dozen bamboo wood ribs and paper. It is used for making a gentle wind by waving it. This is the same function as a (paper fan). It is also used as a room decoration, in Japanese dancing and Noh plays. Bunsendo is a favourite shop among Kabuki actors and choreographers. It handles dancer’s fans, folding fans, fun-throwing game sets, Uchiwa (paper fan) and envelopes for congratulatory gifts of money. The shop owner is Mr. Osamu Arai, the fourth generation of the owner. Photo shown is Mr. Ryota Arai, the fifth generation of the shop.

• Address: 1-30-1, Asakusa, Taito ku, Tokyo(Nakamise shop) / 1-20-2,Asakura, Taito ku , Tokyo(Kaminarimon shop)
• Tel.: 03-3841-0088
• Open hours: 10:30 – 18:00
• Closed day: Mondays after 20th of each month

Kane So

The tastes of dishes will change depending on which Hohcho (food choppers) you use. “Kane So” handles many “Hood choppers,” a cooking utensil which is very popular among professional chefs. The shop was founded in 1873. A popular item among foreigners is the Sashimi knife for home use, with a price range of 7,000 – 17,000 yen. There are some people who are well-versed in Japan, and/or the orthodox school of food choppers. They buy very expensive products with prices from 80,000 – 90,000 yen. The present owner is the 5th generation, and the three brothers of the shop preserve the traditional craft.

• Address: 1-18-12, Asakusa, Taito ku , Tokyo
• Tel.: 03-3844-1379
• Open hours: 11:00-19:00
• Closed day: not regularly fixed.
• http://www.kanesoh.com (Japanese)

Yonoya Kushiho

The shop was founded in 1717. It is the only boxwood comb specialty shop that exists around the Asakusa area. When Karyukai was flourishing women put their hair up using different shaped combs. The combs used were changed depending on the hair quality and the hair style. The number of Geisha has been decreasing, therefore so has the people with a fluent command of such hair fixing equipment. “Wood is in life. The wood graining of a boxwood comb is changed when it is broken, also too much scraping is not good, but it is painful if you do not scrap it. So the adjustment is difficult” said Mr. Yu Saito, the 4th generation of the shop, who is looking for modern style while keeping with tradition.

• Address: 1-37-10 Asakusa, Taito ku, Tokyo
• Tel.: 03-3844-1755
• Open hours: 10：30-18：00
• Closed day: Every Wednesday (also takes an indefinite two-day off on Wednesday and Thursday in a month)

Matsumoto

People associate Asakusa with Matsuri (festival) and also associate Matsuri with Hanten (Japanese short coat in cotton, usually worn in festivals). Bag Matsumoto, a bag specialty shop that was founded in 1948, recycles old Hanten and/or Tenugui (Japanese towel) and makes backpacks and bags from them. When you take in Kimono and Obi or used clothes, the shop will make a bag from them for you.

• Address: Shin Nakamise, 1-21-8, Asakusa, Taito ku, Tokyo
• Tel.: 03-3842-2961
• Open hours: 10:30-20:30
• Closed day: not regularly fixed.

Edo Sashimono Watanabe

Sashimono is the craft of joining boards or a board and a bar without using metal nails. It is a name for furniture and equipment that is made for users and their life style from Edo period. While inheriting traditional skills and techniques, the shop evolutes the products to match modern construction and life style. “Daikoku Bashira (pillar)” (892,500 yen), which is made under the theme of Daikoku Bashira (pillar) which used to be a symbol of a house, and contains 6 tricks. “We are MOMOTOSEYA, we make products that people can use for one hundred years” said Mr. Akira Watanabe, the third generation of the shop.

• Address: : 3-25-4, Ryusen, Taito ku, Tokyo
• Tel.: 03-3873-3050
• Open hours: 10：00-17：00
• http://www.sashimono.net (Japanese)

Tsujiya Honten

“I can immediately understand when I see the client’s bear feet” said the third generation shop owner. His finger tip is so confident when he fixes a thong of Pokkuri (lacquere wooden clogs with rounded soles). It is said to be very difficult to fix, even for people with proficient skills. Pokkuri is named after the sound it makes when people walk wearing them. They are worn by children in holiday outfits at festivals, and children aged seven, five and three. And in recent years an increasing number of people wear Pokkuri when they are in Kimono at a wedding party or coming-of-age ceremony. It is said that in Edo period, little girls in licensed quarters wore them when they participated in Oiran Dochu (parade of extremely high ranked courtesan). And since Meiji period, Maiko (apprentice geisha) and brides have started to wear them. The shop has been popular among people who wear Japanese Kimono since it was established in 1912.

• Address: 1-21-8, Asakusa, Taito ku, Tokyo
• Tel.: 03-3844-1321
• Open hours: 10:00 – 19:00
• Closed day: none
• http://www.getaya.jp/index.html

Hoken Do

Calligraphy came from China. Ink stone, brush, paper and sumi ink are known as the Four Treasures of Writing Material. People also have been enjoying “Bunbo-Seigen (pure appreciation of writing material), of which they decorate and appreciate these four items. “My grandfather passed Chinese ink stone down, my father passed Japanese ink stone down, and I do both” said Mr. Takashi Aoyanagi, the fourth generation of the “Hokendo” shop. He polishes ink stones with commitment to function, durability, and beauty. He also creates custom made ink stones from rude ores. Various calligraphy items and small articles such as paperweights and ink holders. Products for engraving seals are also sold in his store.

• Address: : 4-1-11, Kotobuki, Taito ku, Tokyo
• Tel.: 03-3844-2976
• Open hours: : Weekday　9：00- 18：00, First and Third Sunday 10：00-17：00
• http://www33.ocn.ne.jp/~houkendou/ (Japanese)