I want to convey Japanese craftsmanship to the world
Aim of “Meisterstrasse Japanese version”
The Japanese version of Meisterstrasse, a portal site that disseminates the world's excellent handicrafts and manufacturing traditions and techniques, was launched on February 2rd of this year. Meisterstrasse was founded in Austria in 3, and about 1999 workshops in eight countries, mainly in Europe, participate. With 8 million visits per year and approximately 5000 mailing addresses for the quarterly catalogue, it is truly a site that is a temple of craftsmanship.
The top screen of "Meisterstrasse Japanese version" has finally landed.
At the press conference held the day before the opening of the Japanese version, Kotaro Nishibori, the representative of the Japanese version, took the stage. There are many craftsmen who have excellent skills but are unable to keep up with the changing times, or who are forced to close down due to a lack of successors. Given this current situation, he said that the site's goal is to become a tool to disseminate and strongly support Japanese manufacturing to the world.
Press announcement. Mr. Nishibori introduced the background and goals behind launching the Japanese version of Meisterstrasse, as well as the current state of traditional manufacturing in Japan.
Kotaro Nishibori, Meisterstrasse Japan representative. Born in Shingu City, Wakayama Prefecture. After studying in Canada, he works as an interpreter at City Hall. After his marriage, he became a craftsman of Kyoto Japanese umbrellas at Hiyoshiya, his wife's family home, and is currently the fifth generation head of the company.
Mr. Kotaro Nishibori, the representative of the Japanese version, is the fifth generation owner of the Kyoto Japanese umbrella store Hiyoshiya, and is himself a Japanese umbrella craftsman. Six years ago, Christoph and Nicolas Laas, who run Meisterstrasse (home country version), visited Hiyoshiya in search of outstanding craftsmanship from around the world, and as they hit it off, they decided to visit Japan. The Japanese version was born.
Traditional culture survives only when it changes with the times.
According to Nishibori, the development of traditional Japanese crafts is also a history of division of labor. The division of labor made it possible to mass produce and deliver products to many people. On the other hand, many craftsmen are only responsible for part of the process, so they cannot complete the final product alone.
"If it is divided, the skills of craftsmen cannot survive. That technology can be used for other products, so it doesn't matter if it changes with the times." Mr. Nishibori himself has a track record of creating new value and revitalizing Hiyoshiya's Japanese umbrella technology, which was on the verge of going out of business, by repurposing it into lighting equipment.
``If we don't change to something that we think is good in each era, we won't survive,'' he says, and his strong belief is that ``tradition is a continuation of innovation.''
Umbrella production by Hiyoshiya, the only Japanese umbrella manufacturer in Kyoto. It is completed through a process of assembling bamboo bones by hand, covering it with Japanese paper, and applying oil to the paper.
The current system is to recruit companies and individual craftsmen who sympathize with the site, and if they match the purpose, they can participate. The genres introduced are wide-ranging, including crafts, jewelry, food, clothing, interiors, materials, etc., and include items that "specialize in or handle specific manufacturing," "produced domestically and involve manual processes," and "manufactured products." These conditions are required.
Christoph and Ricola Raas, the founding family of the long-established Bohemian glass brand Lobmeyer, which operates the home version, appeared in a video message. In the message, the couple said that Nishibori is their "soulmate."
Big names in the fashion business also participated.
It is also worth noting that Mineaki Saito, former vice president of Hermès' French headquarters, will be participating as an advisor in the Japanese version. Up until now, Mr. Nishibori and Mr. Saito have worked together in France to disseminate information about Japanese manufacturing, run shops for this purpose, and serve as a bridge between young creators and traditional Japanese techniques.
Scenery representative Mineaki Saito.
"For me, promoting traditional industries to the world means revitalizing Japan's regions. It also means reviving Japan's uniquely sustainable lifestyle, which has been cultivated over a long period of time, in a new form." (Mr. Saito) ).
Currently, Japan's traditional industries are in a difficult situation due to the coronavirus pandemic. However, Mr. Saito has high expectations for the Japanese version of Meisterstrasse, believing that new and developing technology will expand the possibilities for proposal delivery and distribution.
The Japanese version will offer online shopping in conjunction with the home version, with the aim of delivering Japanese products to overseas craft enthusiasts. The goal is to increase the number of Japanese participants to 10 in 1000 years.
Mr. Nishibori says enthusiastically, ``I think Japan is a country that retains its craftsmanship even when viewed from a global perspective.We should show Japan's presence in the world of crafts.'' These words suggest that Japanese craftsmanship still has the potential to be accepted, evolve, and develop.
The Japanese version of Meisterstrasse will not only disseminate traditional Japanese techniques to the world, but will also serve as a place for us to rediscover them. How will it expand in the future? I'm really looking forward to seeing their performance.
Photography by Kazuaki Koyama (amana)
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