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Author: Natsumi Otsuka

Graduated from the Master's program at the Graduate School of Fine Arts, Tokyo University of the Arts. Graduated from the Industrial Technology Research Institute training course (former Industrial and Textile Technology Center training course). Member of the Kyoto Hand-painted Yuzen Cooperative Association Youth Association. While working on designs at a Nishijin weaving factory, she also dyes and processes gold leaf to suit customer orders.

About hand-painted Yuzen

Hand-painted Yuzen is the oldest technique of Yuzen processing, and is one of Kyoto's most representative traditional industries, still passed down to the present day. The dyeing technique was originally hand-painted, but in the early Meiji period, stencil dyeing was developed, and then machine printing techniques were developed. The Kyoto Yuzen industry became increasingly independent with the development of dyeing stencils, and the development of specialization has led to the diversification of techniques for each specialized process.

Leather New Product Development Project

Using leather, a by-product of the Wagyu beef we eat every day, as a new canvas, each craftsman brought their own techniques, including glue application, tube painting, and gold leafing, to work on developing leather items. The theme was "cherry blossoms." Each craftsman interpreted the theme in their own unique way, resulting in items with a variety of different expressions. This will be the catalyst for further new initiatives.